Happiest Place on Fur: Chapters 31-40

Happiest Place on Fur: Chapters 31-40

Main Story (All Chapters): https://pastebin.com/t1LnyMtL
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Chapters 21-30: https://pastebin.com/Qr5SkQy8
Chapters 31-40: You are here

[[ CHAPTER 31: Can You Smell what the Rox Is Cooking? ]]

>You step out of the safety of the SUV, and within seconds you have a growing number of eyes on you
>Like before, some of the anthros look on with excitement and confusion while others scurry off to the nearest building to hide in
>”Don’t worry,” Shearod-K says. “Many of them act the same when the Whimseys are in town. They can be a very skittish crowd, for certain.”
>The ones brave enough to approach you — and brave enough to get close to the burly tiger and threatening wolfess nearby — seem to mistake you for someone in the Whimsey family
>”Well I’ll be tanned,” an elderly bear says, sizing you up. “Which one of them are YOU?”
>”This is Anon,” Shearod-K quickly chimes in. “He’s the human who managed to, ah, ‘infiltrate’ Whimsey Park and become one of our own.”
>You catch Rox looking rather amused about the conversation
>She’s directly responsible for your “awakening”, and yet it seems like she’s getting away scot-free from all the involvement
>Either Shearod-K is trying to take the blame off of her, or he really wasn’t briefed as thoroughly about the whole thing as he’d like others to believe
>But the story that you somehow snuck into the park and found out about the anthro side becomes the version the tiger continues to tell to everyone
>And he tells it to EVERYONE
>Every few steps he has to introduce you to another curious bystander, and sometimes you don’t get to move at all before another one or three run up
>Obviously not everyone in Moreau is thrilled to meet you, but the reassuring part is that you only interact with the ones who are
>”Nice to meet you, Anon!”
>”I heard all about you on the news!”
>”Boy, you’re lucky you didn’t end up on someone’s plate after that stunt, hahaha!”
>”Mr. K, you adoptin’ this human or somethin’?”
>”Look at that, the guy’s already stealing our women!”
>Suddenly Rox doesn’t look so amused anymore
>You can’t really blame her though
>Everyone’s laughing and making similar jokes about you and wolfess being a couple, but you have a feeling that the second either one of you admits to it being true there’s going to be an angry mob of anthros ready to run you out of town
>Best to just roll with the punches for now and keep quiet
>Sadly, not everyone is as cordial about your arrival
>You’re so absorbed with the eager anthros crowding around you that you can’t quite make out what one of them yells out from a ways away
>Whatever it is they say, however, you can recognize the anger in their voice and the disgusted way some of the others react to it
>You look out in the distance and see a young opossum cupping his snout, ready to yell something out again
>He has a gang of other anthro youths behind him, egging him on and adding their own insults
>But their jeers and heckling melt away in an instant when Shearod-K throws them a vicious look
>Followed by them breaking their formation and scattering off when Rox begins to charge at them
>”ROKSA!” the tiger roars after her
>Everyone cowers at his voice
>Rox’s ears fold down so quickly and so flatly you think the tiger’s boom might have actually blown them off her head
>She gives Shearod-K a pained look and shamefully returns to your side
>The tiger straightens his tie and leans in close to her, whispering a warning to the wolfess with an extended claw
>”I do not wish to have to remind you of the fragility of your current position. You are representing the Whimsey Corporation with your every action, and instigating violence against ANY individual — no matter the justification — will have dire consequences. Do I make myself understood?”
>”Yes, sir,” Rox mumbles
>That one made YOU break out into a sweat
>Half of the other anthros even took off from the outburst
>Now you know who Sherry-K gets her no-bullshit side from, and you wonder how much she’s been holding back this whole time
>Shearod-K gives a sharp exhale, then tries to give a consoling smile
>”Please, Roksa, keep a level head for the sake of our future. The Whimsey-Aesop Living Treaties is more than prepared to act in the defense of Anon should there be any distasteful prejudices against him. It is part of my job to ensure the hateful actions of others will not impede upon what we hope to achieve together.”
>His brow furrows, and there’s an almost feral look in the tiger’s eyes
>”You have my assurance that W.A.L.T. will not tolerate the aggressions of our community against Anon. I personally will pursue any...disciplinary action we will have to leverage against those who seek to do him or any of us harm.”
>Yikes
>It sounds like he’s trying to assure you of your safety here in Moreau, but in reality it just makes you sweat even more
>When your worst dreams of mysteriously “disappearing” from the company because of what Rox dragged you into first flooded your mind long ago, you imagined someone like Shearod-K being the shadowy figure to drag you off and erase you from the face of the planet
>Whimsey gets what Whimsey wants, and if the company or its affiliates want a world where anthros and humans get along, they’re going to have it
>One way or another
>Again, Whimsey’s influence can be pretty terrifying
>But par for the course, the cheerful façade returns in an instant
>”Now then,” the tiger says with a clap of his paws, “shall we take a walk around the plaza? I believe you said you wanted to purchase some gifts for your parents, did you not?”
>”Y-yeah, totally,” Rox says
>Shearod-K clears a path for the three of you to walk through, using the sheer aura of his lingering ferocity
>You and Rox hang back a little bit
>”Woof,” Rox mutters in your ear. “All the time I’ve spent in Sher’s office COMBINED doesn’t stack up to how much of my life the guy just took off there.”
>She does look a little shaken up, but your comforting look is all she needs to rebound
>Her paw digits flex, wanting to have your hands locked in them
>It’s still not safe to get too touchy-feely with each other out in the open, so the wolfess settles for being shoulder-to-shoulder with you as you walk
>Gently bumping you with her hip every so often

>Much like all the backstage anthro stuff in Whimsey World, you quickly realize just how much these animal folk live like humans
>The shops and businesses aren’t too different, and a lot of the name brands you’re familiar with are just as prevalent as anywhere else
>It’s a little disappointing not to see anthro companies with witty animal puns everywhere like in the movies
>When you point this out to Shearod-K, he has an answer ready just like everything else
>”Our communities have unique, regional brands as well, yes. However, it is often easier to get a much larger, widespread company to establish a separate marketing division for our specific needs. You will certainly find some recognizable franchises in cities such as Moreau.”
>And these big company franchises know they have divisions for anthros?
>”Not always,” Shearod-K says, though he doesn’t follow his words up right away
>Rox jumps in with some input of her own
>”It’s like bootleg stuff,” she smirks. “You’re getting the goods in the end, but it just might not be directly from the people making it.”
>”That might be an oversimplification,” Shearod-K says
>You can tell he’s a little offended by Rox’s explanation
>”What we produce is every bit as legitimate as the humans,” he continues. “In fact, I’m certain Anon would be interested to learn that we have been responsible for many ideas and inventions the humans benefit from to this day. The thermos, the rechargeable battery, many modern incarnations of the toothbrush...and of course, there was that marsupial entrepreneur responsible for the ‘fanny pack’.”
>Rox chokes back a laugh
>”Yeah, a real historical achievement,” she says. “At least it gives us something to laugh at when we see all the guests in the park with those dumb things on”
>”I find it to be a rather convenient utility...” Shearod-K says
>You can almost visualize the picture you saw of the young Sherry-K in the theme park with her parents, but now with her father wearing the pouch of a clueless tourist around his waist
>That’s a good mental image to hang on to whenever you start to get intimidated by him again
>And if you ever have to get a gift for the big guy, at least you have something in mind
>Rox’s own hunt for gifts takes her through most of the stores around the pond
>She looks completely stumped, and you can sense the frustration building in her
>It’s the frustration of someone who has to get a last-minute gift for a person who they have no idea what they’re interested in
>A little bit of guilt is mixed in there as well
>”What do you think?” Rox asks you countless times, holding up everything from shirts to kitchen appliances
>All you can do is shrug
>You’re not going to be much help to her with this
>It’s hard enough to find gifts for other humans sometimes, but a family of wolves?
>Like Shearod-K explained, a lot of stuff sold in these stores is similar to what you’d find in human cities, but once you eyes linger on something for a while you notice the subtle differences
>Pants with extra loops for tails, electronics ergonomically made for paws or talons...
>Finding a gift for the right species is probably a struggle even for anthros
>Rox is also growing impatient with how many anthros sneak up to meet you as you shop
>A group of them even follow you around from stop to stop
>The wolfess looks ready to chase them off, but thankfully she restrains herself
>It’s not Shearod-K’s warning that’s holding her back; it’s you
>”I’m going to have to learn to share you with the world, I guess,” Rox says with a weak smile. “And you’re going to have to do the same when I start performing as ‘me’ out there.”
>You rub Rox on the back out of sight of the other anthros, reminding her what she’s told you many times before
>You’re HER Anon; all hers
>Rox’s muzzle scrunches up in a goofy grin
>”Don’t do this to me right now, buddy,” she chuckles. “It’s not fair. Save all the sentimental stuff for when we can get some alone time together.”
>After roughly two hours of shopping, Rox settles for a bottle of cologne for her father and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers for her mother
>Even for being relatively simple gifts, they’re still specially tailored for scent-sensitive anthros
>Neither the cologne nor the flowers seem to have a noticeable aroma, but Rox insists they’re pretty strong for wolves
>Yeah, you weren’t going to be very useful for this errand
>”I was probably overthinking it anyway,” Rox says. “I mean, ‘it’s the thought that counts’ and all that, right?”
>The wolfess sighs
>”Not much of a daughter, am I?”
>She’s really going to need some ear scratches later on to lift her spirits
>It’s mid afternoon by the time Rox finishes her errands, and you can tell it’s about time to meet her father for a late lunch
>You were subconsciously honing in on any other wolves you saw wandering around the downtown plaza, wondering if you’d run into either of Rox’s parents prematurely
>Of course, once you realized what you were doing you quickly focused your attention elsewhere
>Don’t need Rox thinking you’re checking out another wolfess
>A little outside of the main plaza is a small sandwich shop where you’re scheduled to meet the elder wolf at last
>You drop off the flowers back at the SUV for now, and with a few deep breaths you and Rox are ready to face her father
>”Just gonna apologize in advance if something goes wrong,” Rox murmurs to you. “Remember, if things get ugly we’re walking out.”
>Even Shearod-K seems to be in full bodyguard mode

>It’s nice to see that not everything in Moreau is franchised
>The sandwich shop is a little mom-and-pop establishment run by a family of moles, and it’s a wonderfully cozy place to eat
>A young mole daughter waits to seat guests, and she gives a squeak of surprise when she sees you
>Fortunately, she’s not one of the terribly skittish ones
>Shearod-K is on point with organizing some privacy
>”If you would not mind, miss,” he says to the mole. “These two will be meeting a third diner very shortly, and I would like them to have a table someplace where they would not be bothered. Hopefully you have something available where I could also sit close by.”
>You can tell Rox is a little hesitant to have the tiger be hanging around so close, but she knows if things take a turn for the worse with her father then it’s better to have the only witness be the tiger than the whole restaurant
>”V-very well, sir!” the female mole says. “We have something in the back that might work.”
>The three of you are led to the rear of the restaurant, where a few tables are squeezed around some corners out of sight
>Shearod-K settles at a small table to himself while you and Rox are shown to one at the very end of a narrow hall
>”Hey, Mr. K,” Rox whispers to him before you continue following the mole. “Do you mind not...uh, eavesdropping on us? There’s some personal stuff I need to tell my dad when he gets here.”
>Shearod-K looks surprised by the request, but he doesn’t look too offended by the insinuation
>”Of course, my dear,” he says. “As I said, if there is something you do not need me around for, please feel free to speak up. Would you like me to leave the restaurant for now?”
>”No, no,” Rox quickly cuts in. “This is good. If you can keep people from bugging us, that’d be great. And if something goes wrong at our table...well, I’m sure you’ll hear it pretty easily.”
>”Understood. Enjoy the meal, you two.”
>Shearod-K pops open his suitcase again, taking out a newspaper and one of the oldest cassette players you’ve ever seen
>He daintily sets the headphones over his ears and gives the paper a good flick to unfold it
>All business, all the time
>The mole seats you and Rox next, and the wolfess is quick to put in some drink orders
>”Just something to calm the nerves, you know?” she says to you, rubbing her arm. “I, uh, want you to let me know if I start getting a little too crazy, alright? I mean, about anything. Please?”
>Now that you’re somewhat alone with Rox, you’re free to take her paws in your hands and give her your full emotional support
>Her muzzle darts forward and plants a kiss on your lips
>”Thanks, Anon.”
>You do what you can to calm Rox down, though the way she flinches when the drinks arrive gives away just how nervous she is
>By the time the server turns her back, half of Rox’s glass is already gone
>”Sorry,” she grunts, wiping her mouth with her paw. “I’ll slow down.”
>The two of you sit in silence as minutes drag by
>Eventually, Rox’s ears twitch and swivel
>You can hear Shearod-K’s low rumbling voice give a greeting to someone, followed by another deep voice in response
>”Here goes nothing...” Rox inhales sharply
>The male wolf turns the corner, stopping for a moment when he sees the two of you
>No doubt he was mentally preparing himself for the sight of the human to some degree, though his gaze soon changes over to his daughter
>Rox may actually have the old dog beat in height by a few hairs, though he’s still a bit taller than you are
>He’s definitely a big guy, though he’s not as athletic as Rox and his size comes from a little extra padding of fluff on his body
>His fur is faded and dusted with the gray of old age, but you can find some spots of darkness in the same shade as his daughter
>If you could describe the old wolf in one word, it would probably be “jolly”
>Your tension dissipates slightly, and you pray he’s as friendly as he looks
>Rox stands up from her seat, and you’re right there alongside her
>You meet with the old wolf halfway, though you give the father and daughter some space for a hug
>”It’s good to see you again, sweetheart,” the wolf says warmly as he embraces his daughter
>”Good to see you too, dad,” Rox says back with a sniff
>”Have you gotten taller, Rox?” the wolf says. “It feels like when I saw you last time, you were just a little pebble. Haw-hah!”
>”Pfft, thanks, dad....”
>The two break the hug, and Rox leads her dad closer to you
>”Dad, this is Anon. Anon...?”
>The male wolf looks you from head to toe, and then thrusts a strong paw out to meet your hand
>His eyes don’t have the same golden luster that Rox’s do, but they flash with spirit in a way you recognize all the same
>”Kale”, he woofs. “Glad I could finally see this mysterious human for myself. Didn’t honestly think too much about you showing up in Whimsey World until I heard you were hanging around my Rox. Father’s concern, hmm?”
>His viselike grip isn’t held back by his old age
>”I needed to make sure my little girl was going to be safe. Now that I see you...oh you poor soul! I really hope she hasn’t been beating you up too badly now!”
>The old wolf guffaws and slaps you on the back
>Rox covers her face with her paws in embarrassment
>Just around the corner, you think you can see Shearod-K turning his head in confusion from all the noise
>”Well, now that introductions are out of the way, we can get to all the important talk,” Kale continues. “All of the ‘howl you doings” and whatnot, right? Bwahaha!”
>It’s going to be a pretty interesting lunch
>”Dad, come on...” Rox groans
>Between her paws, you can just make out the hint of a smile on her face



[[ CHAPTER 32: Rox Salt ]]

>The three of you take your seats around the cozy little table
>Just you, Rox, and her father, with the protection of Shearod-K around the corner to give you all some privacy
>You’re still nervous about making a good first impression on the older wolf, but much of the tension has dissipated since shaking his paw
>Kale is very clearly Rox’s father in terms of personality and humor, and from the moment he starts making small talk you can tell he’s going to be a pretty easy guy to get along with
>”How’re things with Chee going? Any more crazy guest stories? Has that tiger girl still been giving you a hard time?”
>You can almost imagine Shearod-K’s ears perk up at the sound of his daughter being discussed, even through his headphones
>Rox is quick to answer her father’s every question, and the more she covers the looser she seems to get
>When the waiter comes to grab more drinks and take orders, she even holds off on the alcohol
>”Get whatever you want, you two,” Kale says as he scans the menu. “Lunch is on me today.”
>”You sure, dad?” Rox replies. “I can treat you for this one. You came all the way out here for me and everything.”
>”That’s treat enough,” the elder wolf says with a smirk. “It’s good to see you again, kiddo. Thanks for the offer, but I know money’s probably still pretty tight for you out here, right?”
>Rox pushes an ice cube around in her glass with her straw
>”Actually...I’ve, uh, gotten a pretty big promotion recently. I don’t want to ruin the surprise yet, though. I think you’ll be pretty impressed, though.”
>Kale’s eyebrows shoot up
>”Atta’ girl! I’m proud of you, sweetheart! Lookin’ forward to what this big surprise is!”
>”Yeah, me too.”
>The wolf father turns his attention to you next
>”So, how about you, Anon? You enjoying yourself workin’ for the Big W, or have you been getting your share of dog days? Bwahah!”
>Rox slaps her forehead with her palm, but you can tell she’s holding back a grin
>You tell Kale about your own experiences with the park, though mostly focusing on everything leading up to “that moment”
>When you get to the recollection of that fateful day, you have to pause
>”So, what happened?” Kale says in a hushed voice. “How did you discover all the little critters running around under the park?”
>”It was me,” Rox quickly blurts out. “I kind of...sort of...pulled Anon backstage that night. I, heh, might not have been thinking straight by the end of my shift. He’s my fault, you could say....”
>Kale nods solemnly, like a father listening to a child’s admitted guilt would
>”I see...well, what’s done is done, I suppose. I hope whatever lesson you learned stuck with you, but it sounds like you still have your job. And a promotion, to boot! So, it looks like it all came out in the wash, eh?”
>Rox chuckles meekly, spinning the ice cube around the glass even faster
>”You were always a bit of a wild child,” Kale continues, “but never a BAD one. I might be a little biased, but I couldn’t have asked to raise a better daughter. As long as you try to be careful — and stay honest to yourself — then I know you’ll make the best choices for your life. You got my support in whatever you do, kiddo.”
>”T-thanks, dad,” Rox says again, her muzzle sinking a bit
>The table becomes much quieter as you wait for your meals
>Rox is obviously waiting for the waiter to come and go so there won’t be any interruption for what she’s about to say
>Her father definitely knows her well, as he lets his plate sit untouched until the waiter is out of sight and Rox is ready to speak up
>”H-hey, dad....”
>”Yes, Rox?”
>You take a breath in sync with the wolfess
>”There’s something I’ve been holding on to...that I probably should have told you a long time ago. Please, don’t get mad, alright?”
>Kale folds his arms, but his expression is still a soft one
>”I suspected there was something bugging you,” he says. “After all I just told you, though, you should know by now that I couldn’t stay mad at you forever, kiddo. Whatever you have to say, I promise I’ll listen to the whole thing.”
>Rox gulps audibly
>Here it comes...
>”There’s a reason why I dragged Anon backstage that night...and why I haven’t been talking to you or mom much about him. I was just...pretty scared of what you’d think; of what EVERYONE was going to think.”
>Kale remains focused on his daughter as Rox lifts her head to look him directly in the eyes
>”Dad...Anon and I have been...together for a while now. Like, closely...together.”
>The elder wolf blinks once, but doesn’t say anything
>Rox takes another breath and continues her confession
>”I met Anon shortly after he started working in the park. It wasn’t just a recent thing like I’ve told you; he’s actually been living with Chee and me for a while. I wanted to meet him...I wanted to see more of him. So, that’s what led to...all of this. Dad....”
>Without a moment of hesitation, Rox takes your hand in her paw
>”Anon and I are in love.”
>Rox’s grip is stronger than the old wolf’s handshake
>Kale blinks again, then looks to you
>All you can do is nod and reaffirm what the wolfess said
>He then looks back to his daughter; now it’s his turn to take a long breath
>”So...is that all?”
>Neither you nor Rox knows what to make of his question, but he’s quick to follow it up
>”Not sure what I was expecting,” he says with a whistle, “but it was probably something much worse. But this? Ahh...I should have seen it coming.”
>The wolf’s chest quakes with a deep chuckle, and his lips curl back into a warm smile
>”I remember how much you loved those old Whimsey cartoons with the humans in them. ‘Heir of Dog’, wasn’t it? Then you wanted to dress up as one for Halloween that year. You tried to tape your ears down and everything! Took us ages to get it all off without ripping all your fur out!”
>Rox’s ears fold back in embarrassment and she covers her head with her free paw
>”D-dad, please....”
>”Yeah, just like that! Bwahahahah!”
>The old wolf slaps the table in amusement as you rub Rox’s back in support
>A few meek laughs escape her own muzzle and her body shakes slightly with the relief of getting that dreaded burden off her chest
>Once Kale comes down from his raucous laughter, his face changes back to a more serious one
>”So...” he grunts. “Had that locked up for quite a while, then?”
>Rox nods, still a little shaken
>Her father takes her other paw and clasps it in his own
>”That hurts me more than anything you could have said, I think,” he says. “To know that my little girl had so much worry she was struggling with for so long. I know we haven’t been the tightest-knit family out there but...I hope you understand that I’ve always wanted you to be happy.”
>Rox sniffles, though with both of her paws occupied she has to bury her snout in her shoulder to wipe her nose
>”Then...you’re not disappointed in me?” she says. “Or Anon?”
>”How can I be?” Kale says. “It looks like the two of you have figured things out better than your old man has. When your mother and I separated, I thought maybe we had scared you away from the idea of ever having a family. We were a little worried when you never had a boyfriend.”
>His words remind you of the night you had with Rox up in Whimsey Castle; she had said something very similar at the time
>When two wolves can’t stay together, the thought of ever having a human for a mate would seem like an impossibility
>Kale’s gaze is on you again, with a soul-piercing inquisitiveness
>”Not too many wolves I know of out there mixing with humans. That’s...probably going to be tough for you. But, if you show my Rox all the love and respect she could ever ask for — if you stay loyal to her and protect her when she needs it — then you have my blessing. Like I said, all I can hope for is to see her happy. The way she smiles now and talks about her job like she’s actually proud of it...I’d like to believe you’re the reason for this change I see in her. And if that’s the case, then you’re part of the family as far as I’m concerned.”
>Rox is joyfully speechless, so it’s up to you to thank the father wolf enough for the both of you
>Strange to imagine someday you’re going to have an anthropomorphic lupine as a father-in-law
>Kale claps his paws together and rubs them vigorously, staring down at his plate
>”Well, the food’s gonna get cold,” he chortles. “Dig in, everyone!”

>Lunch stretches on for at least an hour, thanks to the renewed discussions about Whimsey World and your adventures with Rox
>With Rox’s conscience cleared, she opens up even more about all the good times and bad you’ve shared
>She still doesn’t go into TOO much detail when it comes to the intimate parts, fortunately
>However, you get the feeling Rox would easily brag about having you as a boyfriend and leave nothing to the imagination if you were all gathered in a much less public space
>The two wolves share so much so openly with each other it’s a mystery why Rox wouldn’t try to keep in contact with her father more often
>Then again, you know first hand what kind of baggage she’s been carrying for so much of her life, and you can picture a younger Rox being much more of a rebellious firebrand than she is now
>The kind of young wolfess who wanted to run away and work at a theme park, thinking it would bring back that sense of wonder and magic she had almost given up on
>Now that she’s matured a bit — and you’ve seen her growth yourself — it looks like she managed to find what she was looking for
>Maybe this will be the point where she wants to bring her family back into her life once again
>Well, there’s the other half to the equation you still need to work through...
>”Have you told your mother yet?” Kale murmurs to Rox as the lunch winds down
>”No,” Rox says with a wince. “She’s next. We’ll be stopping by to see her in a little while.”
>”Ah, I see...well...I’m sure if you carefully ease her into the idea, she’ll be just as accepting of Anon as I am.”
>Rox and her father certainly are cut from the same cloth, right down to being unable to tell a convincing lie
>After the waiter collects the check, the three of you get up and head to the front of the restaurant, passing a rather relaxed Shearod-K
>The tiger has accumulated numerous empty cups of coffee, cleaned dessert plates, and an impressive stack of cassette tapes he’s already fully listened to since you arrived, all arranged neatly on his table
>Whether he was in some sort of meditative trance or just got tired of waiting, not even the copious amounts of caffeine he drank is stopping him from looking half asleep
>He jolts awake as the three of you pass by
>”We’ll be outside,” Rox mouths to the tiger as he scrambles to organize himself
>It’s getting late in the afternoon by now, and the crowds are slowly starting to thin out a bit
>Though there are just as many anthros preparing for a night of entertainment as there are anthros ready to turn in for the day
>You could probably settle down right now for some rest with Rox, but there’s still one more person you have to meet first
>The two wolves embrace for another hug as you wait outside for Shearod-K
>”Just remember, kiddo,” Kale says to Rox, “you got my blessing. I know that might not change however your mother feels, but you and Anon are always welcome if you ever find yourselves in my neck of the woods. And keep me posted about that surprise of yours, eh? I want to see what my little girl is going to be doing that’s got her so excited!”
>”Thanks dad,” Rox says. “I will. It was good to see you again.”
>After they break, Kale sticks his paw out for you
>When you grab it, he yanks you into a crushing hug of your own
>Even for a wolf, he has a very “dad” sort of smell about him
>Are you actually starting to pick up on anthro scents yourself?
>Or maybe it’s just that cologne Rox says he loves...
>Either way, you can definitely tell the difference between his fur and Rox’s, and it just makes you want to bury your face in the coat of your wolfess that much more
>”Was nice meeting you, Anon!” he says with another powerful slap on the back. “You’re part of the family now, alright?”
>His muzzle hovers close to your ear, and you catch a barely audible rumble from his throat
>”Keep her happy, please. I never want to stop seeing her like this.”
>”Dad, you’re making this awkward,” Rox groans as the hug drags on
>”Oh, sorry!” Kale snorts. “Wouldn’t be a proper father if I didn’t try to make you run away in terror, would I? Have a good night, you two! Bwahahah!”
>The old wolf’s laughter continues through his waves goodbye and all the way until he’s out of sight
>Shearod-K comes strolling out of the restaurant, briefcase in one paw and straightening his tie with the other
>”Well then,” he says, cleaning his throat. “I trust you did not need me to intervene after all?”
>”Nah, it was a good lunch,” Rox says
>Her eyes are still fixed on the last place she saw her father, and there’s a content grin on her lips
>”Splendid. Now, I believe you have one more meeting for the night?”
>The smile on the wolfess vanishes just like that
>”Yeah, my mom. She should have an extra room for Anon and me to stay tonight. Hopefully....”
>Shearod-K nods firmly
>”Then I will drop the two of you off as soon as you are ready. In the morning I will return to collect you.”
>Rox looks like she wants to say more, but she just ends up chewing on her gums

>The suburbs of Moreau are even more wooded than downtown, understandably
>There are small houses, large ones, and some built into hills or even the ground
>Guess there’s only so much of the animal instinct you can take out of an anthro
>Rox sits up front so she can point Shearod-K in the right direction, but whenever she’s not actively guiding him she’s looking at you through the rear-view mirror
>Preemptively asking for forgiveness, or maybe waiting to see if you’re going to bail out
>”Is this the place?” the tiger says
>He pulls up alongside a beautifully maintained ranch home, part of which looks as though it’s built into rocks and a small cave
>A wolf’s “den”, no doubt
>The tiger helps you and Rox unload his SUV, but right as he’s about to return to the wheel the wolfess stops him
>”Hey, Mr. K,” she says. “You’re not going to be too...far away, are you?”
>The feline cocks an eyebrow
>”I was planning on returning to the city square,” he says. “There is a hotel I am quite fond of with a wonderful continental breakfast. Is there something you would need my assistance for out here? It seems like a safe, respectable neighborhood.”
>”I, uh, would just feel better if you were close by for this,” Rox says, scratching her neck. “For a little while, at least. I could send you a message or something if we get everything under control.”
>”As you wish,” the tiger says with a bow of the head. “I will be in close proximity. You may contact me as needed.”
>”Thanks, big guy.”
>Shearod-K takes a slow drive around the neighborhood, leaving you and Rox alone to face the mother wolfess inside the house
>Rox takes your hand and the two of you slowly walk up to the front door
>You can practically feel the pulse in the wolfess’ paw
>”Here it goes....”
>She rings the doorbell, then gradually leans back farther and farther
>”If she doesn’t answer in the next thirty...uh, ten seconds—“
>*click*
>Too late
>When the door opens, your jaw unhinges and your mouth opens up
>It’s like looking at a second Rox; a bit older, but wearing her age gracefully
>And if Rox wore sundresses and jewelry rather than t-shirts and jeans
>There’s really not much else to say except that THIS is where your wolfess clearly got her good looks from
>”Welcome home, Roksa!” the mother wolf says with a voice that has Rox’s tone but far too much honey than the daughter could ever muster
>”Hi, mom,” Rox says in return, starting the next wave of hugs
>But as the mother’s head leans over her daughter’s shoulder, the older wolfess’ eyes go wide at the sight of you
>Rox must feel the change in the atmosphere, because she quickly pulls away and backs up to join you
>”Mom, this is my coworker, Anon. Anon, this is Lelea.”
>You don’t move until Rox nudges you forward, and Lelea doesn’t move even after you hesitantly extend your hand
>Rox makes a noise that sounds like a mix between a grunt and a huff, and her mother thrusts her paw out to take your hand
>Your skin hardly has time to register the incredible softness of her paw pads and the fur between them before your hand is lightly clasped, shaken once...twice...and then promptly released
>You pretend like you don’t notice the subtle wipe the older wolfess does on her sundress
>”Anon, it is...a pleasure to meet you,” Lelea says. “Would the two of you like to come in?”
>”Yeah, that’d be great, Rox mumbles
>The way she pushes you ahead of her makes it feel like you’re being taken hostage, even though you’re certain Rox wants to be in this situation even less than you do
>The inside of the house is remarkably well kept, and all the sights and sounds and smells evoke nostalgic, cozy feelings within you
>It’s a mother’s home, for sure, though there’s also a certain somberness to it
>You can quickly find numerous pictures of Rox throughout her years on mantles and shelves, but nothing to indicate Lelea was ever married
>Or currently in a relationship, for that matter
>”Sooo, mom...” Rox says. “Are you still alright with Anon and me spending the night here?”
>”Of course I’m alright with letting you stay in your own home, Roksa,” the mother responds
>The way she says it makes it sound like she was deliberately only answering part of the question
>”The spare bedroom — well, YOUR bedroom — is all prepared and ready for you. And...we always have the sofa bed available for guests like Anon.”
>”Anon should be fine with me,” Rox says. “There’s plenty of room in my old bedroom, right?”
>Lelea blinks, looking from you to Rox rapidly
>”W...do you mean on the floor? Well, I suppose....”
>”I’m sure we’ll work something out,” Rox says coolly
>The younger wolfess leads you to her former bedroom, with her mother giving a quick gesture to the sofa as though trying to sell its comfort to you
>The spare bedroom, though charming in of itself, has none of the “Rox charm” you’ve grown to love
>You wouldn’t even guess it used to be hers if it weren’t for the photos of the young wolfess spread throughout
>Rox must have taken even possession of hers to Whimsey when she moved out, which isn’t all that much
>”Can I get you something to eat, Roksa?” the mother says
>”We ate not too long ago,” Rox replies, with a heavy emphasis on the “we”
>”I see,” Lelea says. “Well, I do have some snacks available if you’re hungry. Maybe we could relax in the living room and catch up?”
>”Yeah, sure,” Rox responds. “I think a talk would be good.”

>The first time Rox’s mother addresses you without prompt is when you sit down on the living room sofa
>”Comfortable, isn’t it?” she says. “If you would prefer to sleep out here, I would be happy to—“
>”He’ll be fine with me,” Rox says bluntly
>”Of course. Roksa, there another seat over here so the two of you aren’t so cramped on the—“
>”I’ll be fine right here.”
>Off to a great start
>Lelea sips on some tea while Rox goes over her life updates for the second time
>She focuses on the positives of her job more than before, as if really trying to impress her mother, though the way she talks about things doesn’t have the same kind of pride or joy as when she explained everything to her father
>Her stories have less of the sort enthusiasm you’d expect from a child who brought home a straight-A report card, and more of the boastful kind of “take that” attitude from someone trying to prove to a life’s worth of doubters that she’s managed to reach her goals
>You DO think Lelea is genuinely proud of her daughter, and if the pictures all over the place are any indication she still has a deep amount of love for Rox
>But the tenseness is thick in the room, and it’s far worse than the seconds leading up to meeting Kale
>Doesn’t help that the conversation quickly becomes a tug-o-war of topics, with Rox trying to pull you into the discussion while her mother wants to hear more about her daughter
>Eventually, Lelea gives in and accepts that you’re going to be the one in the spotlight for a little while
>”So, Roksa, how did you and Anon, ah, meet?”
>”I pulled Anon backstage and showed him our part of the park one night. Now he’s living with me and Chee.”
>Gonna rip the bandage right off, huh?
>Lelea’s muzzle scrunches up and she looks as though someone dropped something foul into her tea
>”Wait, he’s...? But I thought you were just showing him around or...I-I don’t know?”
>”Yeah, that’s what I said,” Rox replies firmly. “I showed Anon around the park ‘in depth’, and then I got stuck with him. Or, he got stuck with me, heh. We’ve been roommates for a while now.”
>”Not...in the same room or anything, right?”
>Rox suddenly sits rigid, with a furrowed brow and claws digging into her pants
>”Mom, there’s something you have to know.”
>Oh boy, brace for impact...
>Rox inhales sharply
>”Anon and I are together. We’re dating.”
>It’s not a “spit take” moment, or a “breaking the fine china” moment, but it’s enough for Lelea to not realize she’s gradually spilling her tea on the carpet
>She saves enough of it to justify putting the cup down on the table rather than just dropping it, but the stain goes ignored
>The mother wolf mouths the beginning of about a dozen different sentences, but none of them are audible
>Rox seems to relish in waiting for a response
>Finally, Lelea gets something out
>”You’re, h-haha, that’s one of your jokes, isn’t it? The two of you aren’t actually...?”
>”Yes, mother, we’ve been dating for weeks. Anon and I LOVE each other. We even SLEEP together every night.”
>”ROKSA!” Lelea sputters. Her eyes bulge out. “I don’t believe this! That’s so...how could you joke about this sort of thing?”
>”Why do you think I’m joking?” Rox snarls. “Because he’s human? Because he’s not a wolf? That’s what you always wanted, isn’t it? For me to date some wolf boy?”
>”W—Yes, but....”
>Lelea’s eyes manage to get even wider when she realizes the can of worms she just opened up
>Rox shakes her head with a venomous glare
>”I thought I could open up to you about this. Dad was fine with it, why can’t YOU be?”
>”This has nothing to do with your father and me,” Lelea snaps. “This is about YOU, Roksa. You’ve said yourself things are getting better for you, so why don’t you wait for a nice wolf rather than degrading yourself—“
>”ENOUGH!”
>Rox’s voice shakes the room, and the wolfess leaps to her feet with a speed that sends both you and the mother wolf recoiling
>Rox storms off to the spare bedroom, leaving the two of you in silence until she lumbers back with all of your luggage in her arms
>”W-what are you...?” the mother says
>”I was going to give each of you just ONE chance to accept Anon,” Rox hisses. “I’ve made a life for myself with Anon and WITHOUT either you or dad, but I wanted to let you both back into it. Once chance, and you blew it. You’ve been nothing but horrible to Anon since we got here, so we’re leaving. Maybe I’ll call again in a few more years, but if you don’t think you’re ever going to change then just save me the trouble right now!”
>Rox storms to the door, beckoning you to follow
>”Roksa, wait!”
>”DON’T EVER CALL ME THAT AGAIN!” the young wolfess roars. “My name is ROX! I’ve told you that for YEARS! I tell everyone to call me Rox, and everyone else fucking listens! There’s only ONE girl out there I let call me ‘Roksa’, and I respect her a hell of a lot more than I do YOU right now!”
>You have to duck under Rox’s swinging, bag-filled arms to avoid being clobbered out the door
>Right on cue, the monstrous SUV of Shearod-K pulls up along the side of the road
>You’re right at Rox’s heels as the two of you make your way to the vehicle
>Just then, you hear Rox’s mother at the front door
>”Rok—honey, stop! Listen to m—!”
>But her words taper off into muteness as the burly tiger paces around his car to stand between you and the house
>You don’t look back, and the way Shearod-K glares at the older wolfess behind you makes you glad you don’t
>It’s enough to scare her back into the house with a slam of the door
>Rox throws all the luggage into the car before Shearod-K can even offer his help, so he squeezes himself into the driver’s side and waits for everyone to buckle up
>”Forgive my foolishness for assuming you will not be spending the night at this residence?” the tiger says. “Is there someplace else you know of that you would rather stay? It is getting fairly late.”
>”I don’t care, just drive,” Rox mumbles into her fist
>Her throat sounds hoarse and she’s biting into her paw hard enough to draw blood through her dark fur
>She’s trying her hardest not to look at anyone else in the car, but even through the reflection of the windows you can see the building, glistening moisture in her golden eyes
>Wherever the tiger is going to take you, you think Rox is probably going to be holding her breath the entire time



[[ CHAPTER 33: Bed Rox ]]

>The ride back to downtown Moreau is a quiet one, though for much different kinds of reasons than before
>It’s hard to say whether you’d trade the tenseness of the trip to Rox’s mother’s house with the heartbreak coming back from it, but in spite of the sadness in the car there’s a feeling of relief
>The storm has passed, even though what’s left over in its wake is still a mess
>You put your hand on Rox’s shoulder and the wolfess’ nostrils flare with a sharp breath
>She won’t look at you
>Knowing Rox, she’s not angry, disappointed, or ashamed of you in any way, though
>She’s much more likely to feel that way about herself, and she doesn’t want you to see her as such a wreck
>All you can do for now is what her father asked: show her love, and be there to protect her
>Looking into the rear-view mirror, you can tell Shearod-K is troubled by his own inability to help Rox
>You thank the tiger for returning so promptly to pick the two of you up
>Rox sniffs in agreement
>”No trouble at all,” Shearod-K says. “I do not wish to pry into personal or familial matters, but I am thankful whatever transpired between you three did not require any serious intervention from my behalf.”
>You’re just as glad
>Shearod-K has an air about him that makes you think he’s always ready to rip open his business suit and bare his teeth if he needs to, and for someone of his size the doomed victim would be lucky to pass out from fright before the tiger has a chance to tear them to shreds
>Family fights are ugly enough when it’s just words; you don’t need to see bloodshed from claws and fangs on top of it
>Speaking of fangs, Rox’s paw is now noticeably bloodied from how intensely she’s biting into it
>It takes some coaxing and a little bit of rubbing her arm, but you manage to get her to release the paw so you can take a better look at it
>Rox continues staring out the window as you examine the damage
>”Is everything all right?” the tiger in the front seat rumbles. “Ms. Rox was not abused, was she?”
>You quickly assure him that nothing happened...physically, anyway
>It’s as though the smell of blood makes his own start to boil
>Shearod-K really wasn’t kidding when he said he wouldn’t let anyone stand in the way of humans and anthros getting along; you’re almost afraid of what he’d do to Rox’s mother if she had actually harmed her daughter
>But the tiger’s temper melts and he draws a fresh handkerchief from one of his pockets
>The cloth feels amazingly silky-smooth, and it’s embroidered with the tiger’s initials on the corner
>”You may wrap her paw in that,” he says to you. “No need to return it to me. I have plenty of others just like it.”
>You thank him again and tend to Rox’s paw
>The wolfess flinches as you wrap her up; she really must have bitten into it deeply
>She tries to feebly take her paw back after you’re finished, but you hang on to her for support
>Her communication consists only of sniffling
>Lights peek through the dense foliage of the Moreau forests as you arrive back at the downtown square
>The reality of a secret town full of anthros seems even more mysterious and magical at night with the anthros’ glowing, watchful eyes piercing through the shadows
>You’ve been used to your coworkers for a while now, but the unfamiliarity of these strangers gives Moreau that sort of mythical quality to it as though you’ve stumbled upon the anthros’ hidden society for the first time all over again
>Throwing in that Whimsey aesthetic and polish doesn’t hurt the sense of wonderment either
>Shearod-K drives to the front of a pretty classy hotel, where a mandrill bellhop is already marching over to the vehicle in preparation to take your luggage
>”Good evening, sir,” the mandrill says with a bow. “And welcome back. Will this all be going to your room?”
>”Just the bags for these two,” the tiger says, motioning to you and Rox. “They will be using the room I already have reserved under my name, while I speak with the concierge to secure a second suite for myself.”
>The mandrill recoils in surprise when he finally notices you, but any opinions about you as a human (one way or the other) are disguised behind his professionalism
>”Very good, sir. If the two of you would please follow me?”
>You give the tiger a confused look, and even Rox lifts her head just enough to look him in the eyes
>He’s letting you use his room just like that? It can’t be that cheap of a place...
>”It has been a long day for the both of you, and I am certain the room is ready by now,” Shearod-K says with a wave of his paw. “Please, go head and use my suite for the night. I will join you for breakfast in the morning.”
>He hands you a keycard and shoos you off to follow the bellhop, not accepting any objections or even waiting for you to thank him again
>The mandrill has all your luggage under control, letting you give full attention to Rox as you walk with her arm around yours
>She’s practically in a trance the whole way, silently hanging her head and looking down at her feet while you guide her through the hotel
>This place is clearly one of the Whimsey-groomed businesses in Moreau, with immaculate cleanliness and stunning decoration from the fountains to the doorknobs
>It’s extremely quiet in the hallways, making Rox’s sniffles even harder to bear
>The mandrill stops you at a suite in the far end of the hotel, unlocking the door for you and depositing your luggage inside
>”Give a ring to the front desk if you need anything,” he says with a bow. “Enjoy your stay.”
>He strolls off with a whistle as you lead Rox into the room

>It’s a shockingly large suite, even for someone like Shearod-K
>Giant entertainment center, a bathtub that’s like a small pool, a fully stocked minibar that’s bigger than some refrigerators...
>But the strangest part is that it’s very clearly just a one-bed suite
>Did the tiger just assume one of you would take the couch, like Rox’s mother did?
>Or is the tiger much more observant about the relationship between you and the wolfess than you thought?
>Rox drifts out of your grip and staggers over to the king-size bed
>With a heavy *WHOOMPF* she throws herself onto the bed, face down in the pillows and lying motionless
>Well, sleep is probably the best thing for her right now
>You grab your bags by the door and move them farther into the suite, unpacking a few necessities before you get ready to turn in for the day yourself
>A horrible noise stops you cold: it’s like the sound of a dying animal
>That’s partially correct, anyway
>A brief inhale is all Rox prepared you with before she begins to bawl into her pillow, finally letting it all out
>All of the anguish she bottled up and suppressed since storming out of her mother’s house is released with wailing howls
>Her chest heaves and her back arches with every ragged breath she takes, shortly before the next series of sobs
>Her toes curl and push into the sheets like she’s trying to shove herself deeper into the pillows
>You can’t take more than a step at a time before you’re stopped by an even louder cry, as though she’s warning you not to get too close to her
>But what’s even worse than hearing your wolfess so stricken with grief is being unable to comfort her, and you’ve had to rein in your own emotions and affection for her ever since this morning
>You’re alone with her now, and nobody’s around to interfere or judge you
>You sit on the bed next to Rox and place your hand on her back
>Expectedly, she shudders at your touch, but it’s also enough to stop her crying for a moment
>You rub up and down her back for a while, then your hand wanders up to her neck
>The thickness and softness of her fur is pure pleasure to run your fingers through, but you don’t linger in one spot for too long
>This is for HER enjoyment, after all, not just yours
>Your other hand joins the first as you lean in to stroke the back of her head and the base of her ears
>Rox’s sobs get shorter and quieter while you begin scratching her, switching between deeply digging into her fur and gently running your fingertips along the edges of her ears
>Every so often one hand will return to her back for a little rub or a light pat, and then it’s back to giving full care to her favorite spots
>No more bawling, no more howling
>The wolfess whines and hiccups, but the worst is over
>Maybe you could have let her cry it out a bit longer, but part of you believes she wants this more than simply stewing in her own misery
>In fact, whenever you pause your scratches for too long her ears swivel around like periscopes searching for your hands
>When you resume the tender care, she lets out a sigh and a peaceful moan
>Rox is done with her sadness, and you’re done with seeing her that way
>Her neck muscles stiffen right before she slowly lifts her head up to look at you at long last
>And, unfortunately, you can’t help but let out a quick laugh
>Rox’s face is completely covered in the aftermath of her crying, from her red eyes to her tear-soaked cheeks...to the snot and saliva stringed on her muzzle
>It’s a pitiful image that is somehow too adorable to not find a little humorous
>”W-what’s so damn f-funny?” Rox snorts
>You fetch some tissues for her, along with a few damp washcloths
>Once she gets a chance to blow her nose you move in to help clean her fur up
>She sits up and lets you cup her chin while you blot her snout and dry her eyes, ending with a few kisses on top of her muzzle
>Next comes her paw, which has thankfully stopped the bleeding but still soaked through the handkerchief with a fair amount of blood
>Good thing Mr. K isn’t expecting this back
>She flinches some more and inhales as you clean the bite marks, but once you wrap fresh bandages over her paw it’s as though you’ve already taken all the pain away from the wound
>Her digits wiggle and curl around your fingers, and you give the paw pads each a kiss of their own
>You look into Rox’s eyes, and in spite of the sorrow in them you can easily find the beauty as well
>The redness mixed with her natural gold makes you think of leaves changing colors in the heart of autumn
>She sniffs some more and you dab her black nose again with a tissue
>”W-well,” she croaks. “One out of t-two isn’t so bad, huh?”
>You pull the wolfess in for a hug, and for a second you think she might break down again
>Yet she stays resilient, and rather than crying some more she chuckles weakly
>You can feel her head move as she looks around the suite
>”H-how did we even get here? H-haha...are we on vacation or s-something?”
>The two of you share the hug for a while, rocking side to side while you continue to comb through her fur with your fingers and scratch the back of her ears
>You only stop when she lets out a long yawn, but you keep holding on to her
>Without letting go of her good paw, you pull back the sheets and delicately slide the wolfess under the covers
>She looks so cozy all tucked in, though the content smiles come out in earnest only when you finally join her in bed
>There isn’t going to be any passionate lovemaking tonight like she joked about, but this works just as well
>You place a hand back on her neck while she puts her good paw on yours
>You and Rox touch foreheads, and you can hear the subtle swishing of her tail against the sheets
>”Thank you, Anon,” she whispers. “I’m...glad we could still find something nice to do on our little vacation. I love you so, so much....”
>No doubt it’s harder for her to breathe with her nose plugged up, but her faint exhales through her open mouth make you picture the wolfess blowing the last of her unhappiness out
>”So...so much....”
>These are probably the softest bed sheets you’ve ever slept in, and they still don’t compare to Rox’s fur
>Your petting is rhythmic, and you don’t even remember stopping by the time you fall asleep to the light snoring of the wolfess next to you

>There are a lot of negative things you can say about the Whimsey Corporation from an employee’s perspective, but there is no denying they know how to treat their guests like kings and queens
>You’re not even on the park grounds, but anything they have a hand in creating has that trademarked magic to it
>Was your mattress doing some crazy, high-tech massaging or conforming to your body while you slept in it?
>Well, there was too much else to focus on last night to notice if the bed had some kind of advanced features to it, but then again that always was a key part of Whimsey service: you never really stop to realize just how discreetly they work their care into every little detail
>What a surprisingly good sleep that was, and the morning is off to a gorgeous start with the sight of the wolfess right before you
>The redness in Rox’s golden eyes is gone when she opens them, and when she finds her human right where she left you her lips stretch into a satisfied smirk
>She taps a spot on the sheets right by her mouth where she must have been drooling all through the night, making a wet sounding noise with each pat
>”Hey, guess we got to make a mess in bed after all, huh?” she says with a snicker
>Rox puts her paw behind your head and tries to move it closer to the saliva puddle
>”Wanna feel? It’s really gross.”
>No...Rox...no
>When she can’t get your head to touch the drool, she instead guides you to her lips for a wonderful good morning kiss
>A little less gross
>”Probably gonna need a shower before we meet up with the big guy,” Rox says. “He said something about breakfast, right? Damn, haven’t eaten anything since our late lunch yesterday....”
>Her ears perk up at the sound of her phone buzzing
>She fishes it out of pocket right as it stops ringing, flipping though all the missed calls and messages
>You can see in her eyes some bitterness at what’s on the screen
>”Maybe later,” Rox says, tapping a quick text that you’re sure says something very similar
>The phone starts buzzing again, but this time she lets out an amused sigh
>”It’s Chee...hey, do you think you could take this one for me? Just tell her...whatever.”
>Taking a call for someone else is made even harder when Rox pulls you into her arms for some morning cuddling
>You answer the phone, and immediately you hear Chee’s confused gasp on the other side
>”Anon!? Is Roxie there? Is she alright? Are YOU alright?”
>Rox chuckles in her throat as you say what you can to console the frantic bird
>”I-I was just worried about the two of you,” Chee says. “I wanted to give you some privacy in case you were still with her parents, but...I couldn’t sleep! How did things go?”
>Rox’s nuzzling on your neck is like encouragement to go on, giving you the “okay” to explain things to your mutual roommate
>So you tell Chee everything in a condensed version: the trip around town, the lunch with Kale, and ultimately the incident with Lelea
>You’re quick to assure Chee that Rox, despite it all, is still with you in one piece
>”Oh, good! I-I mean, it’s not good what happened, but...I’m glad the two of you are safe. I was actually really worried about you too, Anon. It’s such a big world out there, and all your friends are way back here where we can’t protect you!”
>Now it’s your turn to chuckle
>It’s such a weird concept to think that “going home” means returning to your job at a theme park where animal people live right next door
>It took a while for many of the anthros to warm up to you — and some are still not quite there yet — but Rox really was right: this IS your family now
>”How has Sherry-K’s father been? He hasn’t been...too mean or anything, has he?”
>You let Chee know that Shearod-K has been more than a respectable bodyguard, and that he’s the one to thank for preventing the situation with Rox’s mother from being allowed to get too out of control
>”Good, good...I-I mean NOT good that it happened, again. Sorry....”
>Poor Chee
>It’ll be good to see her again
>You let the bird know you and Rox will probably be back home later this evening, and she lets out a whistling sigh
>”I can’t wait! Let me know when you’re on your way! If I can’t make you both a nice dinner tonight, then I at least want to so something special for breakfast tomorrow before you go in for work!”
>”Heh. Thanks, mom,” Rox whispers under her breath
>Not only was it not in her usually sarcastic tone, but there’s a sincerity to the wolfess’ words that make it sound as though she’s being serious
>If your friends at Whimsey World really are your family, then Chee plays double duty as the mother, too
>She’s been more of a mother to Rox than Lelea, and she’s been a pretty commendable substitute for your own ever since moving in with the two girls
>All this talk of breakfast and the tiger makes you realize Shearod-K’s probably been awake for hours at this point, being the punctual businessman and guardian that he is
>You say goodbye to Chee and even get Rox to mumble a quick greeting to the bird as well before hanging up
>You can’t quite stop yourself from seeing the leftover reply from Rox’s mother once you end the call with Chee
>[I understand. Please, know that I truly love you, sweetheart, and that I’m very sorry for what happened. I’ll be waiting whenever you’re ready to talk again.]
>Fortunately, Rox doesn’t notice that you saw the message
>Who knows when she’ll make the attempt to reconnect with her mother, if she ever even will?
>That’s for the wolfess to decide, and even though you want to protect her from anything that could do her harm or bring her sadness, you understand that some battles are hers alone
>For now, however, she seems fine with letting her mother think about her actions for a while longer
>Rox stretches her body out fully, pushing her limbs into you and rolling on top of your body
>”Hhhnnnggghhhaaa...hhh-alright,” she groans, “About that shower. Want to speed things up and share the water?”
>Her paw sneaks along your side and down to your rump, where she gives you a little squeeze
>You gasp as it catches you off guard, and Rox uses the moment of surprise to plant her mouth against your own
>She wipes your lips when the kiss parts
>”Might as well get some use out of the place as long as the big guy’s offering. If this is a vacation, we’re not leaving until we get some more enjoyment out of it, right?”
>You don’t think you’ve let go of Rox once since last night, and that streak continues as she leads you by the hand out of bed and all the way to the bathroom
>Now, let’s see if she can keep this up even when you’re changing clothes...



[[ CHAPTER 34: Rox Cake ]]

>You haven’t heard from Shearod-K yet, but you assume he’s waiting patiently for you and Rox to join him
>The wolfess, however, is more interested in the hotel room she ended up in than being on time for breakfast
>”It really IS like we’re on vacation,” Rox says with a whistle. “Someday, after I save a little bit of money, we’re coming back here to get a place just like this. We’ll lock ourselves in for a whole weekend and see what kind of trouble we can get into!”
>Curiosity gets the better of her, and she opens a few of the dresser drawers
>Large, immaculately folded suits in multiple colors and packaged up in plastic are neatly organized inside the drawers
>The same goes for a few dozen pairs of socks and even a few ties
>”Damn, is all this stuff really his?” Rox says. “Does he own this room or something?”
>It certainly seems that way
>The cabinets are filled with bags of imported coffee blends, cases of pens, and stacks of untouched notepads and puzzle books
>Everything that a business tiger would need to get through the day, yet despite the room being utterly devoid of any dust it doesn’t look as though any of these supplies ever go used
>Shearod-K takes the “better safe than sorry” mentality to a whole different level
>Once Rox is done snooping around she grabs a towel and lassos you into it
>She drags you into the bathroom, where the two of you proceed to strip down before stepping into the shower
>You’ve gotten quite used to bathing with her, though she doesn’t shower nearly as much as you need to
>The shower itself it larger than your whole bathroom back at the apartment, with spouts and jets at all kinds of heights and angles
>There’s even a full-body hair dryer for anthros
>You can tell Rox really wants to take her time and get a deep, intimate cleaning in, but responsibility finally wins out in the end
>”Yeaaah, we’re coming back here for sure,” she moans as you help rinse her down
>She hoists one of your arms up into the air, rubbing your side down vigorously
>”Gotta get nice and dirty first, though. The kind of dirty you’re gonna have to really scrub to get out....”
>She pats you on the thigh when she’s finished, letting her paw wander a little too closely to your groin
>”Alright, let’s dry off and go meet up with the big guy.”
>Rox grabs the towel and wipes you down, then rolls it up and starts cracking it at your feet
>She gives the towel a sniff before using it on herself, though she has to step into the full-body dryer for the rest of her cleaning
>The wolfess’ fur billows out as the air blasts her from head to toe
>You try to get dressed, but Rox holds you close while she spins around in the dryer
>”Feel it for me,” she says, guiding your hands along her pelt. “Believe it or not, you can tell if I’m still a little damp better than I can.”
>She snickers in your ear when she says this
>All that built up tension and she never got to blow off some steam like she was hyping up for the weekend
>Now you’re going to have to deal with a handsy, pent up wolfess the whole trip back
>”Maybe we should have toughed it out at my mom’s place,” Rox says bitterly. “Would have loved to have her hear us humping in the next room over, after the big stink she made about us being together.”
>She sighs heavily
>”There’s a LOT of things I wish I could have done or said before we left. I should have been a little more prepared for everything....”
>You go from simply checking her fur for dryness to giving the wolfess some deep scratches to calm her down
>What’s done is done, and there’s no sense in having Rox beat herself up over things that could have been
>”Yeah, you’re right, as always,” she says, nuzzling against your bare skin. “We got a much better place to stay out of it anyway. Sorry you had to see me be such a mess again....”
>You give her a kiss on the muzzle, and she gives you one on the cheek in return
>She has the confession off her chest at last; what happens from here is anyone’s guess, but at least she doesn’t have to keep hiding this from her parents anymore
>It’s a different story for you, but you’re not in any serious rush to be telling your own friends and family about the wolf girl you’re living with
>The two of you finish up in the bathroom and get dressed, packing your luggage back up and giving the room one last inspection
>This WOULD make for a nice little getaway, like for a honeymoon...
>”Let’s move, Anon!” Rox barks. “I’m starving! Didn’t eat a single thing since lunch yesterday.”
>She nips at your ears to keep you moving quickly

>As expected, Shearod-K is sitting at a table in the hotel dining room, already surrounded by numerous cups of coffee and empty plates
>”Sorry for keeping you, Mr. K,” Rox says. “Have you been waiting for a long time?”
>”Not particularly,” the tiger responds. “I knew you both would be quite fatigued after yesterday’s excursions, and so I decided not to make any time-sensitive plans for today. I had my morning exercise in the gym, and I have been enjoying some quiet downtime with a light meal.”
>”Do you wear a suit to the gym as well?” Rox says, her elbow poking you in the sides
>He definitely has the extra clothes to do it...
>But it’s not surprising that such a big anthro like him with such a willingness to be a physical guardian would stay in shape
>”By the way,” Rox continues, rubbing her neck, “thanks for letting us use your room, Mr. K. I know I wasn’t too appreciative last night after...everything.”
>”Say no more,” Shearod-K says. “It was of no inconvenience to me, and I was already prepared to organize lodging for you and Anon if you were not able to secure it yourselves. The important thing is ensuring your visit goes as smoothly as possible. If you do not mind me asking, are you feeling well today?”
>”Yeah, I am now,” Rox says, giving you a sideways glance and a smile
>The tiger nods his head and folds his paws on the table
>He drops his voice to a barely audible rumble, making his words resonate within you even more
>”From the moment our children are born — crying and unable to speak — it becomes a full-time commitment trying to make them as happy as possible. Even when they grow older and are capable of communication, a parent continues to struggle in understanding what their children truly need. Seeing distress in their eyes and being unable to rectify the situation is a terrible feeling; it makes a parent feel powerless and lost. I cannot ever hope to fully understand what sort of relationship you share with your mother, Ms. Rox. However, even if what she has said or done is something I would be vehemently against, I would be willing to bet my entire career that her actions were out of the utmost care for you. She only wants what she believes is best for her daughter, and I hope what transpired did not end a family relationship forever.”
 >”I know...” Rox mumbles
>”It is something I am all too familiar with,” Shearod-K continues. “I...often have great difficultly convincing myself that my daughter is happy. She has hidden her emotions from her mother and myself for most of her life, as well as any social connections she might have. I worry she does not have many confidants, let alone individuals she can truly call friends.”
>The tiger’s brow softens, and there’s a profound look of sadness in his grassy eyes
>”If there is anything you could tell me about her...anything at all....”
>You and Rox exchange uneasy looks
>Sherry-K was pretty clear on what she DIDN’T want the two of you to say around her father
>Before either of you can respond, Shearod-K lets out a weary sigh
>”Knowing my daughter, she has already asked you both not to reveal anything for this exact line of questioning. I...understand if you wish to honor her request. That can only mean she has people she can confide in. But...please, does she seem...happy?”
>”She’s getting there,” Rox says. “Sher’s been in a much better mood these last couple of weeks. Even saw her smile once or twice! Trust me, we haven’t given up on her yet.”
>You nod in agreement
>”Thank you, both of you,” Shearod-K says. “That is all I can ask for. Now then, if you would like to take a visit to the breakfast buffet, there is quite the selection for—”
>Rox is gone before he even finishes
>By the time you make it over to the food as well, she’s passing you by with a stack of plates
>The look Shearod-K gives Rox’s meal makes you think the wolfess might have a bigger appetite than even he does
>This whole trip has been people staring in your direction, though this time it’s from the wolf wolfing down her food
>It’s a feast that soon leads to some discreet, under-the-table belly rubs as the wolfess moans her regrets
>”Eyes bigger than your stomach?” Shearod-K chuckles amusedly
>”Sorry,” the wolfess grunts. “It just all looked too good. Not used to eating better than ramen....”
>The tiger stares blankly
>”As in, just the noodles? Nothing else?”
>”Hey, they come with flavor packets,” Rox shrugs
>”Remarkable. I cannot fathom how you manage to perform your park duties on such a meager diet.”
>”Well, I usually eat more than one at a time.”
>It looks like there’s a hint of genuine fear on the tiger’s face, as though he’s trying to imagine what such a frugal, barebones life would be like
>Once your meals settle, the three of you head back to the concierge for checkout and then Shearod-K’s car for one last trip into the downtown square
>There’s still notable excitement from the bystanding anthros who haven’t had the chance to meet you yet, and you spend a little time shaking paws and taking pictures
>”Overall, I would say this has been a successful first outing, no?” Shearod-K says as you pile back into his SUV for the return trip to the station
>”Sure. I’d come back again,” Rox says
>It didn’t end up as tragic and unpleasant as your worst dreams had worried you with, at least
>The anthros accepted you for the most part, as did one-half of Rox’s parents
>It could have been a LOT worse, all things considered
>”I feel much more comfortable allowing the two of you to return on your own in the future,” Shearod-K says. “Anon appears to be getting acclimated to our local populace quite nicely, and you, Mr. Rox, seem to have his safety and best interests in mind; very commendable behavior for both his guardian and a representation for the Whimsey Corporation. If you require my assistance for subsequent visits, however, do not hesitate to contact me.”
>”Thanks, Mr. K,” Rox says. “We’ll keep that in mind. It was a pretty memorable time...for the most part.”
>The anthros of Moreau look disappointed to see you leave so soon — the ones eager to see you in the first place, anyway — and there’s a small gathering ready to see you off
>If the next anthro town you visit is just as welcoming as this one, then things will only get easier from here on out

>It’s a long monorail ride back, though you and Rox nap through most of it
>Not because you’re still tired, but because it’s a great opportunity to get some relaxing, cozy time together
>It seems like life in Whimsey World always finds ways to keep you both busy, and you realize you haven’t had many chances to take it easy and enjoy the companionship of your wolfess
>Sure, you share the same bed, but rarely do you use your free time to just do absolutely nothing together
>Hand in paw, you lean against Rox’s shoulder and lose yourself in her softness while the tiger sitting across from you is absorbed in his puzzles once more
>Without the fear of meeting the people of Moreau or meeting Rox’s parents, all of the tension of the trip is gone
>Now you’re practically looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow, as well as seeing what the future has in store with Rox’s new role in the park
>The three of you arrive back at the Cast Complex around late afternoon, and Shearod-K follows you all the way back to Rox’s car
>It’s strange how walking through the station makes it feel as though you’ve left the anthro world, even though you’re still very much in it
>Not as many strangers give you curious looks on the way back as they did going through the turnstiles the first time, and many regard you like they would one of their own
>It’s both relieving and a little disappointing; the feeling of being a rock star is just about over
>At least for you, anyway
>”I look forward to your opening performance, Ms. Rox,” Shearod-K says. “Just as Anon has taken a great leap forward in this integration process, your exposure to the humans will serve a much similar purpose. Although your role will be much less direct, it will be a momentous occasion nonetheless and open many opportunities for the company.”
>”Easy there...you’re gonna scare me out of it, big guy” Rox laughs
>You share your final goodbyes, and then it’s just you and Rox left
>The car ride back to the apartment, much like the rest of the return trip, has that same bittersweetness
>Still, it’ll be good to be home
>”We’ll go back soon,” Rox says confidently. “And next time we’ll take Chee with us. I kind of feel bad we didn’t get her anything to bring back. Man, I’m still terrible at getting gifts....”
>You try to think of some way to reassure Rox that your mutual roommate would probably be fine without getting any more presents, but luckily you don’t have to say a word
>As soon as you open the apartment door, you’re greeted with stacks and stacks of boxes all with [CHEE] written on them in thick marker and the same iconic Whimsey penmanship all the employees are encouraged to practice
>The oriole is in the middle of the living room, pulling a strangely familiar Whimsey tissue dispenser out of one of them
>”Aw, Chee!” Rox groans loudly, slapping herself in the forehead. “We were gone for ONE night!”
>”O-oh! Welcome home, you two!” the bird sings, hastily dropping the tissue dispenser and wading through the boxes to greet you
>”Don’t you have ENOUGH of this crap?” Rox says
>She tries to casually shove one of the boxes out of the way, but it’s far heavier than she expected
>”How much did you spend on all this!?”
>”N-nothing!” Chee whines. “Honest! This is all from Sherry-K! She brought it over this afternoon!”
>”...Wait, really?” Rox says. “Then where did SHE get all this stuff from?”
>Oh, that’s right...
>Neither Chee nor Rox probably knows the true extent of just how much of a Whimsey nut the tigress is, and how her collection put even Chee’s to shame
>”I dunno,” Chee says, “but she said she needed to get rid of it. It sounded like she said a ‘new roommate’ was moving in with her, but I always thought she lived by herself?”
>A smug look infects the wolfess
>”A new roomy, huh? Geeee, I wonder who it could be? Well, good for her! The kitty could use someone to keep around at night.”
>Maybe now Sherry-K won’t be so hesitant to let others come and visit either, if her apartment doesn’t look like someone blew up the world’s biggest Whimsey World gift store in her place
>Rox sifts through another one of the boxes, then slams the flaps closed
>”Still, you’re not keeping this all here!” she says. “You don’t have nearly enough space in your bedroom, and we’re not going to flood the living room with it!”
>”D-don’t worry, Roxie!” Chee says. “I’ll just get another storage unit! I’ll have it all cleaned up by tom—“
>”’ANOTHER storage unit?’ You mean you already HAVE one for your Whimsey hoard?”
>Boy, you honestly missed this kind of interaction, even though the poor bird looks like she’s on the verge of tears
>Rox must have missed it too, because her reproach quickly dies down and she’s left with an almost unsettlingly warm smile and an apologetic sigh
>”Alright, it’s fine, Chee. Just...have this stuff organized when you get around to it, okay?”
>Chee nods intensely, happy she has a little more time to go through her newly obtained treasures
>Rox beckons the oriole in for a hug, and you take the hint to join in on the love
>”What would we do without you, mama bird?” the wolfess chuckles
>Wrapped between fur and feathers, you can proudly say you’re home
>Home with your family



[[ CHAPTER 35: Soft Rox ]]

>It’s a relatively peaceful morning that eases you back into the routine of Whimsey servitude
>Chee made a filling breakfast for you and Rox, just as she said she would, then returned to sorting through her inherited Whimsey memorabilia
>The ride to the park was painless, and the crowds that showed up for today were small and manageable
>For the most part
>The cheerfulness that Rox entered with soon reverted back to her usual ways: grumbling about the guests and complaining about the stuffy mascot costume she has to wear
>It’s just like how she used to be, before her determined push to earn that spot in the mascot initiative
>Which is why you can’t exactly blame her; it’s not that she doesn’t care about her job, it’s that she’s looking forward to the day when she doesn’t have to be crammed into the Whirly Barf anymore
>It’ll be quite the new adventure for the both of you, so it’s best to enjoy how things are while you still can
>And what better way to make everything feel like the “good old times” than a trip to Sherry-K’s office?
>You’re summoned by the tigress halfway through your shift, putting Rox in a bit of a sour mood as she thinks you’re both in trouble for something...yet again
>”Shouldn’t have put your hands down my back out in the open like that, Anon,” Rox scolds you. “It didn’t need scratching THAT badly.”
>Great, you’re getting the blame as usual
>”Uh, I mean, you shouldn’t have LET me put your hands down my back,” the wolfess says when you give her a stern look
>That’s better, sort of
>”You didn’t even hit all the good spots, either,” she mutters under her breath
>You sigh and try to continue where you left off with Rox’s back scratching, but she dodges your hand
>”Nope, too late. We’re upgrading to ears and tail later, depending on how much trouble you put us...er, that WE got into.”
>What would you do without her?
>Sherry-K is waiting patiently in her office when you enter, though it’s Rox who gets the first word in
>”So, what’s the big idea flooding our apartment with all that Whimsey stuff?” Rox says. “Chee’s got enough of the junk already. I’m trying to get her to stop bringing so much of it home as it is!”
>”Afternoon, Roksa, Anon,” Sherry-K says calmly. “Please let Chee know I have a few more things for her whenever she’s ready to collect them. There are some fairly large items I need to relocate as soon as possible.”
>”You’re not listening at all, are you?” Rox grumbles
>The tigress grabs a thick stack of fresh, shrink-wrapped books and dumps them into the wolfess’ arms
>”I don’t need any more stuff either!” Rox says
>”This is mandatory for your job,” Sherry-K says. “For BOTH of you. These are the employee manuals detailing extremely sensitive workplace guidelines regarding the mascot initiative. Included within are the expectations of your new roles, as well as the appropriate character scripts for your Meet-and-Greets and the updated Whimsical Nights performances. Tomorrow will be costume fitting and the first day of rehearsals. I trust you will be on time.”
>So much information is thrown at you at once that it takes a moment to parse it all
>Rox tries her best, stammering a response
>”Wha...the mascot...starting already? Tomorrow!?”
>”Indeed,” the tigress says. “Your debut will be during the revamped Whimsical Knights stage show when it returns one month from now. Not much will change apart from the second-act inclusion of the new cast of characters — such as yours — but upper Whimsey management has expressed the desire to begin rehearsing immediately so that all the stage actor are familiar with their parts by the time the show launches.”
>”No way...” Rox gasps. “Why now? Why didn’t we get any more warning?”
>”Orders from Mr. D. Whimsey Jr. himself,” Sherry-K says. “He has been trying to keep the details of the updated performance a mystery from the media and would like the first showing to be a surprise to everyone not actively involved in the production. Whimsey employment has an idea of what will happen, but the specifics are being kept under wraps for the most part. If you haven’t already spoiled your new role to everyone yet, I’d encourage you to remain quiet until the big day.”
>”Pfft, yeah, sure,” Rox says. “You asked the wrong wolf to keep her mouth shut.”
>Sherry-K gives her a stony glare, and the wolfess throws her paws up apologetically
>”E-easy, Sher! Joking! Only Anon and Chee know what’s going on. I’ve only told my folks that I got promoted; they don’t know anything else.”
>”Good. Let’s keep it that way for now, please. You may drop your belongings off at your lockers before heading back out. I expect the two of you to finish off the rest of your shift strongly. Barring unpredictable circumstances, I don’t expect either of you will be returning to these particular roles again.”
>The tigress dismisses you, and the walk back through the tunnels is silent
>You’d think Rox would be more enthusiastic, but she’s strangely reserved

>The remainder of your shift blows by like it’s nothing
>A few more photos and autographs, and the day ends with one last ride-along on Starlight Summit
>Rox manages to keep her energy level peaked the whole time, as though nothing has changed
>It isn’t until the two of you are sitting backstage waiting for the last few minutes of your shift to crawl by that the wolfess seems to crash
>She pulls off her mascot mask and stares into the Whirly Barf’s dopey, unfocused eyes
>”So...this is it, I guess,” Rox says. “May be the last time I’ll ever have the chance to wear this thing.”
>She runs her paw over the costume’s fake fur, stopping at all the little rips and seams that only someone as familiar with the suit as she is could find
>”Feels like every time I ask for something, I’m not happy with what I get in return,” she chuckles grimly. “Wanted some private time for the two of us, and we almost lost Chee. Wanted to show you the castle, and I had a meltdown. Wanted to get rid of this ratty thing for years, and now I almost...miss him already.”
>The two canines are snout-to-snout as Rox has a moment of reflection
>It’s a pause that gives you time to think of your own history with the costume, and how Whirly was technically all you saw Rox as for months when you started working alongside her
>It will definitely be weird to never see her wearing the costume anymore, though you try not to feel too broken up about it
>The suit is still unflattering and a struggle to perform in, after all, and some poor soul like Baggy will probably take up the mantle
>You don’t think it will take Rox long to get over it
>She breaks her moment of silence to slide her paw into your pocket, fishing around for one of your autograph pens
>The suddenness of her probing paw makes you flinch, and Rox blows you a kiss when she finds her pen
>”Relax, stud. We’ll save THAT kind of digging around for later.”
>It looks like she’s about to put the mask back on, but instead she peers around the folds and inner seams of the Whirly head trying to find something
>The perfect spot to leave her mark
>Rox reaches inside and carefully signs her name on a strip of fabric by the nose holes, where it would be impossible to see unless you were specifically looking for it
>”There we go,” she mutters, popping the cap back on the pen and giving the mask one last examination
>She kisses the mask on its bulbous black nose
>”Gonna feel weird not wearing you anymore, old pal,” she says. “Can’t say we haven’t had our hardships, but it’s been an honor working with you. Hope you get a good replacement.”
>Rox holds the Whirly Barf up to your face
>”Want to give him a goodbye kiss, too?”
>You think you’ll be fine without it
>”Aww, come on!” Rox says, waving the mask even closer. “You might not get the chance again! Just give him a little tongue....”
>She grabs the pink, food-speckled tongue and wags it by your mouth
>You dodge and lean out of the way
>Rox teases you for a while, and you make a break for it when you’re saved by the end of the shift
>”Don’t make him sad! Just a little kiss!”
>Rox chases you all the way to costuming, whipping the mask’s tongue at you the entire time

>The anticipation for the next day of work makes it hard to relax when you get home
>You sit on Rox’s lap on the couch — thankfully accessible now that Chee has cleared the living room of all her boxes — and the two of you skim through the employee manuals for a while
>There’s nothing really exciting about the manuals; it’s just the same kind of corporate jargon and rules you remember almost nodding off to when you sat through Whimsey orientation the first time
>What not to do or say when you’re on the job, warnings not to attack the guests, et cetera...
>You don’t learn much about the job, but at least you can honestly tell Sherry-K you read through it
>You can already tell you won’t get much sleep, whether from your own anxiousness or Rox’s
>The two of you decide to turn in for the night early, but it’s much later before your excess energy runs out and you’re able to fall asleep in the arms of your wolfess
>Rox just stares up at the ceiling, taking drawn-out breaths and occasionally nuzzling your face until she’s able to drift off into slumber herself after her routine of “I love yous”
>Morning soon comes, and your adrenaline is quick to wake you up before the alarm has the chance to
>It’s the first time in a while that Rox doesn’t need to be forcefully dragged out of bed, either
>In fact, both of you get up before even Chee does
>Seeing the bird trudge out of her bedroom rubbing the sleep from her eyes is a sight you should have gotten a camera ready for; a rare, white whale kind of opportunity you almost think you’re hallucinating
>”Morning, you two,” Chee yawns. “Sorry I couldn’t get breakfast ready by the time you got up.”
>”Don’t worry about it, Chee,” Rox says, handing the bird a plate. “I got it covered this time.”
>The Princess Glacika pancakes look deformed and slightly burnt, but the thoughtful gesture refuels Chee more than the food
>Everyone’s back at maximum energy in no time, and Rox doesn’t even wait until when you normally leave the apartment (on days you’re actually running on time) before she’s pulling both you and the bird out the door
>”R-Roxie! I still need my uniform!”
>The drive over is a blur, and poor Chee is racing along with you and Rox as though she believes she’s in just as much of a rush as you are
>Even when the bird splits off in the direction of her own park attraction, she’s hopping along like she’s about to be late
>”Have a good day!” she cries out seconds before disappearing down the tunnels, then shrieking as she collides with someone around the corner
>Poor girl...
>You and Rox are heading over to where the backstage of the Whimsical Knights attraction is, both of you feeling somewhat naked not being in your usual uniforms and costumes
>The curious glances from passing coworkers don’t help things either
>”Why aren’t you in your costume, Rox?” they say. “You didn’t get in trouble again, did you?”
>”Yeah, got the pink slip at last,” the wolfess says. “Anon as well. Well, nice knowing you guys!”
>The cheery way she says it and the unexpectedness of her announcement creates some very shocked, downright terrified expressions
>A few anthros even take off quickly in the other direction, either to spread the bad news or out of fear that the wolfess has snapped and is ready to begin her rampage through the park
>She might not be blabbing about the Whimsical Knights surprise like Sherry-K warned her not to, but Rox still managed to find a way to get everyone talking about her regardless
>The resulting gossip coming from all of this by the end of the day will certainly be priceless to hear
>You arrive at the backstage of the Whimsical Knights set, and both of you are immediately greeted with applause
>Stagehands, a few construction workers, some park coordinators...
>And in the center of them all: Chobbo the dog
>Rox laughs nervously at all the attention, and you have to lead her by the paw just to get her to talk to the old beagle
>”Well now,” Chobbo says, giving you and Rox a vigorous handshake. “The big stars have arrived! Are ya’ ready for a new adventure?”
>”Y-yeah, sure thing,” Rox stutters. “Good to see you again, Chobbo!”
>”Didn’t want to miss a day like this one,” the beagle says. “Junior couldn’t make it, but I’m sure he’ll be stopping in to check up on how things are getting along. Needs to give the troops some morale after all...and sign the checks, too! Bwohoho!”
>The dog roars at his own joke, getting everyone else to join in just by the humorousness of how loud he is
>He continues laughing even after the others are done, only stopping himself when his laughs turn into equally powerful coughing
>”You alright, Chobbo?” Rox chuckles weakly
>The old dog nods his head and dabs his mouth with a handkerchief
>”Heard the two of you took a little trip to Moreau recently,” Chobbo says. “Hope the locals treated you well and everything?”
>He looks specifically to you when he speaks
>You give him a quick recount of your visit, focusing on mostly the positives out of politeness
>Rox is the one who gives the more “unfortunate” side of the tale
>”Had some problems with my folks...uh, just one of them, anyway,” she explains. “But Mr. K made sure we didn’t get into any serious trouble.”
>”Bless that man,” Chobbo says. “He might be an uptight, no-fun pencil pusher at times, but he’s got his heart in the right place. Ahh, I’m sorry you had a little trouble while you were there, but Ol’ Whiskers called us up as soon as he dropped you off to say how well everything went. Sounds like he might have embellished a little bit of the story, but...well, it put a tear in Junior’s eye to get that news. Darwin was getting to be a jitterbug when he was told you two were going to Moreau. I think he wanted to be there with you instead of leaving everything up to Shearod-K.”
>Chobbo’s sagging brow lifts up just enough for you to see his dark, beady eyes and the hope he has in them
>”You two did a great thing this last weekend, more than you probably realize. Darwin is finally getting to see his daddy’s dream realized, bit-by-bit, but he still needs someone to carry on after us old farts are gone. Hearing all the hubbub coming from Moreau was like hearing the excitement of guests on Whimsey World’s opening day...all those years ago. It’s going to make this show so much sweeter when we can get everyone out there on stage, dancin’ and singin’ together like we might see outside the park grounds someday. In the meantime, I can’t wait to see the finished thing myself. I frankly haven’t been this thrilled myself in ages...probably not since I found a new favorite flavor of gelatin last week!”
>He grabs his chest and breaks out into even more laughter, though it’s much more controlled this time
>”Rox, Anon!”
>One of the show coordinators beckons you over, while several others hold up some costume bags as though trying to bait the two of you to take a look
>Your new characters are in those bags, waiting to be worn
>”Well, I’d best leave you kids to your practicin’,” Chobbo says, patting you and Rox on the shoulders. “I’ll be back later to see how things are looking. Gotta take a nap first, then maybe raid the cafeteria for some of that good pudding. Better use that employee discount while I still have it, right?”
>His hearty laughter follows him as he hobbles off to the tunnels, and his wheezes echo back long after he’s out of sight
>Rox has a smile of admiration on her muzzle, but you get the feeling there’s a bit of concern in her expression as well
>”Are you two coming?” the coordinator calls out again
>The wolfess snaps back to reality and grabs you around the chest, holding you close under her arm like she used to carry her mascot mask
>”Coming!” she barks, then gives you a friendly smile
>The absurdly goofy look on her face makes even the Whirly Barf look stoic and emotionless by comparison
>”You ready, buddy?” she says
>She nods your head for you as you’re jostled around under her arm, jogging you excitedly toward your new, shared future in the company



[[ CHAPTER 36: King of Rox ]]

>You’ve seen it hundreds of times
>A parent holding their child’s hand as they walk through the park, trying to keep the small human being from vibrating off the face of the planet with bountiful excitement that builds and builds the farther into the park they walk
>Many parents are tired before they ever get to the castle, just from the struggle of keeping their children within arm’s reach
>Occasionally you’ll see a parent sharing their child’s enthusiasm, and once in a rare while you’ll even see the grown adult act like an even bigger, giddier kid
>Although you can’t quite match her excitement, the way Rox shakes with joy as you hold her paw gives you that feeling of being the parent for a brief moment, giving an elated pup her first taste of Whimsey World
>Leading her to magic and adventure, while trying your hardest not to have your arm ripped clean out of its socket when she breaks out into a run for the last stretch up to the waiting coordinators
>”Rox, Anon. Plea~zure to meet you,” a female skunk says with a bit of an accent — one that feels a little forced and faked — and a lot of extra flourish
>You’ve seen her only once before since your induction to the “secrets” of Whimsey World; she’s the head of the costuming department for the various anthro species in the company
>Though wearing the same dorky pinstripes that all coordinators are subjected to, the skunk is so gorgeously groomed she actually manages to make the uniform look like a fashionable outfit
>She must even dye her fur, as the parts of her that would be black are in fact a deep plum color
>She waves a pen around like a conductor’s wand, pointing to the costume bags being held by some of the other coordinators nearby
>”Today I will be over’zeeing your costume fitting. Then you will be given your lines and meet with ze’ rest of your troupe. Come come.”
>You and Rox are practically pried apart as two coordinators take you to separate backstage changing stalls
>The next time you see Rox she’s going to be a completely different wolfess, at least visually
>You’re steered toward a private changing stall by a short male lemur with a mouth full of pins and his tail wrapped up in a tape measure
>Once inside, he tugs your clothes and mumbles instructions to disrobe
>Your mascot handler uniform never needed anyone else to help you put it on, but now it seems like you’re going to have to be getting dressed by someone else from now on
>The question is, will it always be an anthro?
>When you ask the lemur this, he gives a very detailed, extensive answer
>Too bad you can’t understand a word he said, though
>The number of components to this costume is staggering, and the whole process takes nearly twenty minutes of standing like a scarecrow while you’re layered with piece after piece
>The lemur is undoubtedly good at what he does, though you can tell he’s taking extra time to examine your human features
>He mumbles something that you can guess might be something along the lines of, “Never thought I’d see one this close.”
>The last part of the costume is the mask: a vibrant, emerald bit of headgear that covers your whole head except for the mouth, complete with sunglasses to cover the narrow eyeholes
>It’s otherwise completely featureless, making you think of a stickman except with green skin
>Kind of makes you feel like a superhero, or a pro wrestler
>The lemur lets you get a view of the entire costume in a full-body mirror
>You look a little like a groupie for some sci-fi rock band: baggy band shirts and dangling glow sticks over a layer of sleeker, futuristic clothes underneath
>The lemur pats you on the back and mumbles a compliment before leading you back out of the changing stall
>The other waiting coordinators clap for your debut as the skunk scans you from head to toe
>”Perfect fit!” she says, waving around a rolled-up poster. “Now, for the young wolf.”
>You turn to the changing stall Rox had been taken to, which is now illuminated with a spotlight from one of the nearby stagehands
>An otter coordinator slips out first, drumming her paw on a clipboard to build up the suspense
>The door then swings open, and out steps a new legend
>”Introdu’zing: Rokk-Woof!”
>You’ve seen the prototypes already, but the finished design tailored perfectly to Rox’s body is something incredible
>The wolfess looks like she just stepped out of the golden age of comics, wearing a mixed sleek and baggy ensemble of clothes and accessories of musical groups through the ages that make her seem like a veritable superhero
>She’s even wearing a domino mask to “hide her identity” and shield her golden eyes, along with a headset that you assume is to keep her ears from moving just as much as it is for giving her discreet directions
>Almost her entire body is covered up, except for her feet, tail, half of her face, and some of her voluminous neck fluff
>The overall silhouette of her wolfish shape is downplayed convincingly, and if this were the first time you saw Rox you would probably believe she was just a human in a (staggeringly convincing) costume
>Maybe in a few years’ time she’ll get a redesign that lets her anthro features be displayed more freely, but at least she’s not in the Whirly Barf anymore
>The applause breaks out again, and this time it’s from the whole backstage
>Rox can’t help but chuckle shyly at the attention
>”The two of make ze’ perfect pair!” the skunk says, unrolling the poster. “Rokk-Woof and one of her ‘Fan-Ons’!”
>Fan-On?
>”Indeed. Ze’ first human out’zide of the Whim’zeys to know our little corner of ze’ park should be immortalized as well, no?”
>The skunk holds up the poster; Rox’s stylized Rokk-Woof character takes up most of the image, but surrounding her are a dozen or so of the masked, featureless looking “groupies” just like you
>They come in a variety of neon colors with minor distinctions of flourishes and adornments, but the most prominent one of the bunch is the green fellow that you’ve been modeled into
>”It just came to me,” the skunk says with a shrug. “I think ze’ green one works well for you. It will be exclusive to you, as well. All ze’ other Rokk-Woof handlers will be in coz’tume, but only ONE will have the exact look that you have.”
>Rox gives the hem of your mask a gentle tug, and even through her domino mask you can tell her eyes are welling up with pride
>”Definitely my biggest Fan-On,” she says with a smirk
>”Zis is quite the honor, I must tell you,” the skunk says. “For Rox, too. Her name is also immortalized in her character.”
>The coordinator points to the stylized ROKK-WOOF logo on the top of the poster
>The double “KK” is actually designed to somewhat resemble an “X”, like “Rox-Woof”
>”There will be many others to wear the coz’tume after you,” the skunk says, “but you will always be the first. An honor indeed!”
>Speaking of others, two more female wolves arrive backstage seconds later
>One’s slightly lighter in color than Rox, while the other is a little taller yet a little more gangly
>You don’t remember ever seeing these particular two since working with the anthros, but then again you’ve only ever had eyes for one wolfess
>”Zey will be your backups, Rox,” the skunk says, motioning to the girls as they’re led by other coordinators to their own costume fitting. “We had to cast zem from out’zide of Whim’zey World. Zey will fill in for you when you cannot work, but otherwise you will be ze’ primary performer.”
>”My own backups...” Rox says quietly
>Technically they’re Rokk-Woof’s, but you’re not going to spoil the mood and take away her moment of feeling like a celebrity
>After all, she is THE main Rokk-Woof...the “Rox-Woof”
>All that hard work she’s put in during the time you’ve known her...not to mention the years she’s put into the company before then
>She deserves this fame
>It’s not you who’s going to be on stage performing for all those guests, but you feel just as proud to be there for the wolfess as she gets to live out the most important role of her life
>This isn’t just a role either: this is something that will bridge the worlds of the humans and the anthros, if only for the first step
>”Once zey are suited up, we will meet your fellow performers,” the skunk says. “And zen we will begin ze’ journey for real.”
>Rox pulls you close, letting out a faint squeal of excitement and whipping her tail around furiously
>You have never seen her looking forward to work quite like this before

>You and Rox are given a quick tour of the backstage area to Whimsical Knights as you wait for the wolfess’ costars to show up
>The other coordinators tell you that most of the daily rehearsals will be back here at first, but once it gets closer to the grand reveal of the anthros’ addition to the show you’ll be practicing at night up on the actual stage
>The show is only going to be closed for a few days while the stage itself is worked on for the renovations, so you’ll have to make due with your limited time “up top” to learn the ins and outs of the stage layout
>Not much is really changing overall with the anthros added in, but even the smallest tweaks to the show need to be readily prepared and look as though they’ve always been a part of the act
>Perhaps the biggest change to Whimsical Knights isn’t part of the performance at all
>Below the “front row” seats that the guests have access to is a series of large panes of glass, creating one-way mirrors that hide rows of seats underneath the human guests
>This is where anthro viewers will be able to sit and watch, hidden from the humans above
>It makes you think of The Booze Cruise, peering at the people in the bar below you while you sit up in the anthro-exclusive room
>The stage outside is empty for now, but later in the evening there will be an entire celebration of music, dancing, and fireworks
>”Mr. Whimsey’s idea,” a bison coordinator overseeing the renovations tells you. “Senior, I mean. He wanted this sort of thing to be put in for all the big shows right off the bat, but he didn’t have the money or the support to justify it. Guess his son finally decided there’s some worth to it.”
>While there aren’t nearly as many seats down in the “anthro gallery” as there are on the surface, you could definitely fit in a pretty large sum of viewers
>And the anthros would arguably have some of the best angles to see the performance, too
>”If you haven’t seen the whole show before, you’re going to,” the bison goes on. “Management wants you familiar with all parts of the performance, not just the ones you’ll be in. You’ll be spending part of your shift these first couple of weeks watching the show from down here.”
>Getting paid to watch a show?” Rox says. “Not bad. Kind of like getting paid to go on the rides, right?”
>The bison grunts, a little perturbed by the way Rox is wording it
>”There’s one thing we need to organize ahead of time,” he says, flipping through papers with his massive hands. “The first performance we hold will have a select audience. Company officials, members of the press...and so on. That will also include immediate family members for some of the cast.”
>Uh oh
>Rox’s headset keeps her ears held in place, but you can imagine them wanting to fold back out of concern
>”If there is anyone you would like to invite to the premiere,” the bison says, “please let us know as soon as possible so we can arrange some seats for them.”
>”Yeah...will do,” Rox mumbles
>Doesn’t look like you’re going to get the same privilege, but frankly you don’t think you’re ready to bring your own family down here quite so soon either
>The bison looks beyond the two of you, noticing the new arrivals
>”Looks like the gang’s all here, then,” he says
>The skunk coordinator is back, joined by two more heavily costumed anthro performers
>”Rokk-Woof,” the skunk says with a giggle, “I would like you to meet your co’ztars: the ‘Blue Suede Bear’ and ‘Queen Lulu-by’.”
>Your eyes are drawn to the bear first, mostly because of his sheer size
>Like Rox, he’s dressed like a rock star albeit in a much more “classical” sense
>As his name implies, he seems very heavily modeled after an Elvis stereotype, and his fur has been literally dyed blue as well
>The second one, the queen to compliment “the king”, looks to be some sort of female orangutan
>Her style is more about soothing music, with a jazzy sort of aesthetic and a working saxophone to go along with the whole outfit
>Both of them you think you’ve seen before briefly around the backstage of the park, and they’re very clearly older than Rox is
>No doubt Whimsey picked them because of their experience and tenure with the company, but you also wonder if they were also chosen because they would look the most like people in costumes
>Blue’s large, baggy body would easily house a whole human, while Lulu’s primate heritage already matches the human form extremely well
>Rox was probably the one they had to do the most work on; at least they can cover her legs with skirts and parachute pants, while someone like Chee may have been a lot more difficult to disguise with her avian features
>”Wow, you guys look great!” Rox says, shaking paws with her two costars
>”Why, thank you, dear!” Lulu says in a motherly tone
>”Thank you, thank you very much,” Blue rumbles, raking a claw through his head fur
>Three different icons of music, and three different species of animals
>The Whimsey designers really did a good job creating these characters for the show
>You can already picture toys of the three sitting on the shelves of the gift shops and sitting on the shelves of collectors like Chee
>Maybe Rox will be fine with the bird hoarding more Whimsey stuff if it’s merchandise related to her character...
>You hold back a flinch as you realize you’re now staring at the face of the orangutan, who had just slipped up to you
>”And we all know who YOU are, Anon,” she says sweetly. “My stars...I never thought I would see the day when we’d be working with the humans side by side. I joined this company when I was much, much younger than you...decades ago at this point. But even back then, the good man Whimsey’s dream stuck with all of us. He made us ALL want to see this moment happen. It is good to finally meet you, young man.”
>She cups your hand and shakes it vigorously, while the bear puts a massive paw on your shoulder
>”The pretty mama’s right on the money,” Blue says. “Can’t add much more to that. Looking forward to taking this tour with you, chief.”
>Rox manages to find some room to sneak in and get close to you
>”He’s a great guy!” she says, paw around your waist. “I know he’ll do us proud. I can vouch for him!”
>”We’re going to need a picture of this,” the bison coordinator says, motioning to all four of you so close to one another
>”I will hunt zomeone down,” the skunk coordinator says. “And then, we will go over the zcript, yes?”
>There’s a warm aura as you stay in the huddle with the anthros
>Even for the seasoned ages of the other two — and all the veteran experience they already have with the park — you can tell they’re just as excited as you and Rox for this new adventure
>You might be just a Fan-On in all of this, but the anthros are making you feel like you’re the most important star here
>The skunk returns moments later with a few cameramen
>”Zay ‘cheese’!”
>*CLICK*
>And now you’re seeing even more stars



[[ CHAPTER 37: Rox Opera ]]

>Whimsical Knights is a 3-act stage show in an amphitheater at the far end of Whimsey Park, held when the sun sets and the night sky makes the perfect backdrop for all the lights and fireworks the performance uses
>It’s said that the company spends an upwards of tens of thousands of dollars each show just on the fireworks alone
>It’s the last major live performance held in the park each day, capping off the night for most tired guests before they march back to the front gates and head back to their hotels
>For many park employees, the show is a quiet reprieve when all the other attractions are empty and the mascots get a moment peace before they have to line up by the exits to wave the guests goodnight
>You and Rox generally work the earlier shifts together so you don’t have to worry about hitting the crowds as they pour out of the park, but it looks as though that’s going to change pretty soon
>”Guess we’re on the night team now when this thing starts, huh?” the wolfess says, thumbing through the show script. “Whatever. Just means we get to sleep in a little more the next day, right?”
>Luckily none of the other anthros seem to pick up on the hidden meaning to her words, or the way she lifts her eyebrows at you
>”Nothing’s set in stone,” the bison coordinator says, overhearing Rox’s complaint. “You’ll be starting out at night for a while, but where we go from here depends on the fans’ reaction.”
>”What do you mean?” Rox says. “They wouldn’t get rid of us if the show, uh, doesn’t go as well as they want, will they?”
>”Not likely. Mr. Whimsey will not reverse his changes to the show. If the fans take a liking to you, then Rokk-Woof, Blue Suede Bear, and Lulu-By will be incorporated into other parts of the park. Daytime parades, photos and signings...the works. More face-to-face guest interaction once management feels safe letting you closer to humans in those costumes.”
>That brightens Rox’s mood a bit
>Even on the worst days of work, you know she truly loves being around the humans and making them happy
>If she couldn’t be allowed to pal around with the guests anymore, you know she’d end up being miserable at her job
>Her hopeful smile droops to a frown for a moment, though
>”So...what happens if they don’t like us?” Rox says
>Blue and Lulu look a little troubled as well
>For such a big guy, even the bison coordinator seems uncomfortable now
>”Mr. Whimsey...will make this work,” he says slowly. “Or, at least that’s what he’s told us. That might mean making up different characters and...retiring ones that don’t work until we find ones the humans will accept.”
>The anthro performers look to one another, as though worried one of them is already on the chopping block
>”Well then,” Lulu says firmly, “sounds like we’ll all have to give everything we’ve got to make those folks out there love us, doesn’t it?”
>”You’ve got a good point there, missy,” Blue says, adjusting a tiny pair of sunglasses on his snout
>You sneak a grab at Rox’s paw and she nods in agreement at your squeeze, then she buries her nose into the script and returns to studying it with even greater focus
>It’s going to be a rough month of preparing for the show, but as long as she can keep up this drive the big day will be here before you know it
>Her bear and orangutan costars follow her lead, and the whole room goes quiet while the three of them read their parts
>”We’ll do a rough an’ dirty practice for the last hour or so,” the bison says. “Then the same thing for most of tomorrow, and we’ll finish the shift with watching the whole thing for real from down here. Mr. Whimsey wants you all to ‘visualize yourselves in the show’ or something like that, so we’ll be ending the day with Whimsical Knights at least twice a week until we have to close it for the final renovations.”
>Rox nods as the bison speaks, though it’s clear she’s only half listening; instead she’s paying more attention to the script than the coordinator’s words
>With one paw holding the script and the other holding your hand, the least you can do is turn the pages for her as she reads

>”Aaannnd...action!”
>The three anthro stars spread out from their marked starting spots, moving along to the prerecorded music of Whimsical Knights’ second act
>Rox energetically stomps in wide arcs, Lulu sways around with a melody on her saxophone, and Blue gyrates his hips in graceful circles
>They’ve done this routine a few dozen times now between today and yesterday, and there’s been noticeable improvement with every attempt
>There isn’t much for you to do during the rehearsals, even though you’ve technically been included into the performance as well
>Your mission is to appear along with Rokk-Woof, join the stagehands dressed like her other Fan-Ons, and help them pull the pieces of the stage in the right spots as the show transitions into the second act
>Then you wait close to the audience and get them pumped up and ready to cheer for the newest stars
>Not the most glamorous or integral role in the show, but then again you’re not exactly a performer to begin with
>Still, you’ve been told your part in the show might get bigger down the line if you do a good enough job being the bench-warming sidekick
>After all, you ARE Rokk-Woof’s #1 Fan-On
>None of the other Fan-Ons even know who (or what) the new characters really are, and right now they’re probably practicing their roles with the other humans on the empty stage outside
>You’re the only one who gets to come out from backstage with Rokk-Woof when your part begins, and you’re the only one who’s allowed to get close to her at any point in the performance
>It’s just as much of an honor as it is a huge responsibility
>You watch the rehearsal quietly as the anthros move around in circles and wave to invisible audience members
>Their role in the show will be pretty short, comparatively speaking, but with this much tension and anxiety building up for the big debut each second will easily feel like an eternity to them
>Every second on stage is another chance to majorly screw something up or potentially blow the cover of every anthro in Whimsey World, and that’s a fear that’s doubtlessly going through all of their minds
>It sounds like management has contingency plans set up in case there’s some kind of “accident” that exposes what the performers really are, but if such an accident would occur it would surely mean someone’s losing their job in the company for good
>If everyone suddenly found out anthros were real, would the park close down for damage control or would things continue on as though nothing out of the ordinary ever happened?
>The three anthros hold their poses as the music peters out, then they reset back to their starting positions to prepare for another round
>The coordinator in charge of the choreography, an older mouse with massive round ears, claps his paws with a goofy chuckle
>”Alright, that’s a wrap for today, everyone,” he says. “Good work! You can change out of your costumes now, and we’ll end the day watching the show from the good seats!”
>”We’re gonna get so sick of seeing this thing, aren’t we?” Rox whispers to you as she begins to take her domino mask off
>But she breaks out into a grin and nudges you in the side jokingly
>She’s never going to be sick of the show when she’s seeing it from Rokk-Woof’s perspective
>Once back in her casual jeans and t-shirt, Rox wraps her paw around you and the group heads into the underground viewing room for Whimsical Knights
>You pick some seats away from the rest of the production crew and performers for privacy, and Rox kicks her feet up onto the chair in front of you
>”Ooohh-ho-ho-ho...” she groans, flexing her toes. “They’re killing me....”
>The wolfess leans in closer and practically sticks her snout into your ear
>”What am I gonna have to do to convince you to add some foot massages into the routine?”
>You can feel the tip of her tongue poking against your cheek
>It’s not long before the speakers turn on, and you can hear the growing commotion of the human guests topside as they file into the amphitheater
>It startles you for a second, as the walls are so heavily soundproofed (so that the humans don’t hear the anthros below) that you couldn’t hear the hundreds of people swiftly gathering above you
>All of the sound from the performance is going to be picked up from outside via microphones, which is a bit of a bummer for the anthros in terms of getting to hear the audio naturally
>Though at least they don’t have to worry about the outside weather as much as the humans
>And the view is still pretty amazing down here as well
>”Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls...” the announcer drones
>Rox mutters along with the entire opening spiel mockingly
>You both knew the whole thing by heart even before starting the rehearsals, as the booming voice can be heard across almost half of the theme park every single night
>The sounds of the show have been engraved into your mind, much like the safety recordings for getting on rides or entering the monorails
>Please stand clear of the doors...please stand clear of the doors...
>The number of times you’ve actually SEEN the whole Whimsical Knights show, however, is much, much lower
>Much like the name suggests, it’s a show about many of Whimsey’s iconic hero characters set to various classic songs as they repel the villains and bring all kinds of warm, gooey feelings to the world
>The first two acts are all about introducing the characters and dancing along to memorable Whimsey-film melodies, while the final act is the big showdown with the big baddies
>Sparklers and fireworks are shot off throughout, and the finale is a nonstop barrage of explosions seen and heard from all corners of the resort grounds
>Rokk-Woof and her partners are being added just to the second act for now (which has been notorious for being duller than the rest of the show), but once again only time will tell if they’ll be allowed into the finale to fight the final battle against the villains
>Knowing Rox, she wouldn’t think twice about getting the chance to be a hero like that
>You look over to the wolfess and see that she’s nodded off in her seat
>Now it’s your turn to nudge her in the side, trying to keep her awake for the rest of the shift so the coordinators don’t see her passed out
>Her eyes snap open and she instinctively tightens her hold on you, mellowing out when she sees that you’re still there safely next to her
>”Did I miss my cue?” she mumbles with a stifled yawn
>She’s going to be sleeping like a rock tonight...

>The first week and a half of rehearsals have gone extremely well, you’d say
>Rox drags you out of bed bright and early, and the two of you get suited up well before either of her costars do each day
>There’s an incredible amount of vigor in her body every morning
>By noon she’s well into her groove and settled into her element
>By the afternoon she’s panting and breathing heavily, but never without an enormous grin on her lips
>And by the end of the shift she’s exhausted to the point of unconsciousness
>You’ve had to help carry her back inside the apartment a couple of times now, with Chee doing her best to be a great roommate and caretaker
>She has dinner waiting each night, hovering over Rox’s shoulder begging to hear how your rehearsals went
>Though in truth she just might be trying to squeeze some early secrets out of the wolfess...
>”Ah, Chee, come on,” Rox mutters, waving away the bird’s prying questions. “You’re gonna have to wait until the big show like everyone else. Don’t you want it to be a surprise?”
>”Ooohhh, but I can’t waaaiiit, Roxie!” Chee pouts. “You said you were at least going to show me a picture of the costume!”
>Yeah, well, that was before I realized just how serious they are about this thing,” Rox says. “We don’t even get to have our phones close by. You should have seen what happened yesterday, too. I tried to head out to the cafeteria on our lunch break in my costume and they nearly had me strip naked on the spot before walking out!”
>”They wouldn’t do that...” Chee scoffs
>”Yeah, you’re right. I was just going to go and strip down myself to see what they’d say. Hah!”
>You roll your eyes
>Hopefully Rox’s success isn’t going to her head
>On the other hand, she’s always been like that; like pulling you into the girls’ locker room and peeling her costume off right in front of you with no shame
>”Well, fine,” Chee says with her beak upturned. “If you’re not going to tell me anything, then I’m not going to tell you MY secret....”
>Rox laughs at the bird’s bluff while the oriole folds her wings
>The longer the silence drags on for, though, the more curious the wolfess gets
>”...Why? What’s your secret?” Rox asks. “What happened?”
>”I’m not tel~ling you,” Chee sings. “You’re going to have to trade me a peek at your outfit first!”
>”Chee....”
>”Nope! Fair’s fair! You’ll just have to wait until the big night, then. Goodnight!”
>The bird may be curious herself to see Rox’s outfit, but she’s incredibly smug about having her own secret, and so she skips off to her bedroom teasingly
>Rox’s golden eyes have never looked bigger
>”What do you think she’s keeping from us?” she whispers to you
>You just shrug
>The wolfess tosses around ideas for a while, but just like every other night her accumulated fatigue from a full day of dancing soon wears her down to the point she can’t think straight anymore
>You have to drag her off to bed and tuck her under the covers, and only minutes after her head hits the pillow she’s already asleep
>Not before she gives you her nightly “I love you”, though
>In fact, she’s so concerned with making sure she doesn’t forget those three words that she’s been waking up in the middle of the night to remind you of her love again and again
>And for good measure, she starts adding the routine to the morning as well
>”Feels like we’ve been moving nonstop,” she laughs and yawns at the same time when you wake up. “Damn, we’re going to have to do something fun the next time we have off. I don’t want to waste the whole weekend napping, heh....”
>Admittedly, it sounds like a good way to spend the weekend
>With how crazy the previous weekend was in Moreau — and all the Whimsical Knights preparing that’s gone on since then — you’ll take whatever chill time you can get before the debut performance
>”Don’t forget, we need to save up and go back to Moreau soon,” Rox says, pulling you out of bed. “I want at least one night in one of those snazzy rooms again to celebrate when this is all over!”
>When she says “save up”, you don’t think she’s only talking about money
>Rox gives you a sly wink
>Chee has already left for the morning, so it’s up to Rox to make enough ambient noise for the whole apartment as she quickly gets ready for the new workday
>She’s humming for breakfast, whistling as you head out the door, and belting out a song as you drive together to the park grounds
>”Another day to give—it—our—all!” she pounds on the steering wheel before shooting out of the car and into the parking lot
>Then she pounds on your back a few times affectionately while you walk through the employee tunnels
>”It’s been fun so far,” Rox sighs, “but I’m aching to be OUT there on the stage and get this over with. The suspense is killing me.”
>The two of you pass a few other anthros in the tunnels as you usually do, but something feels...off
>Everyone you walk by looks glum and somber
>”Geez, what’s with these guys?” Rox says under her breath
>It really is EVERYONE who’s acting like this, and they’re all too absorbed in their dark clouds to pay you or Rox any attention
>You eventually pass Chee’s gull friend Petch, who’s actually in tears
>”Hey, Petch,” Rox calls back, “what’s...?”
>But she’s already gone, sobbing audibly off in the distance
>Never mind, THIS is the biggest you’ve ever seen Rox’s eyes before
>”I don’t like this, Anon,” she says. “What happened here?”
>On your way to the Whimsical Knights portion of the backstage tunnels, you pass by a very familiar office with the door slightly ajar
>Rox picks up her pace and slips inside with you following at her tail
>”Hey, Sher, what’s going on?” Rox says
>The wolfess tries to make it sound like a friendly greeting, but the panic in her voice is unmistakable
>Sherry-K, in one of the rare occasions you’ve actually seen her sitting down, jerks her head up in surprise
>Her ears, however, remain flat
>”O-oh, Roksa, Anon...how are you today?”
>Her grassy eyes are surrounded by a flare of red, like a burning sunset over the savanna
>”Sher...what’s wrong?” Rox says
>The tigress stands up and slowly paces over to you
>Rox’s breathing gets quicker with each step the tigress takes
>”You’re kinda scaring me here, Sher,” Rox says with a nervous chuckle
>”Roksa....”
>Sherry-K clutches at her chest, as if grasping at an invisible clipboard
>She takes a deep breath and looks from Rox to you, back and forth, unsure where to start
>”It’s Chobbo,” she finally says. “He...he passed away....”
>Rox’s breathing stops
>”No...wh...no...how?” she barely makes out
>”He’s kept the severity of his health issues private for a while now,” Sherry-K continues, sounding hoarser by the second. “He...didn’t want anyone to know how bad things were getting recently. In retrospect, I feel the signs were evident. But he...fortunately...went very peacefully in his sleep late last night, from what I’ve been told.”
>Sherry-K quickly spins on her heels and faces away from you, wringing her paws behind her back
>”Mr. D Whimsey Jr. would like to say a few words to everyone tomorrow evening. We will be pausing the rehearsals during that time so everyone can join him in the conference hall. It’s not mandatory, however. I would understand if either of you would not wish to be there.”
>There’s a long pause, then a single sniff coming from the tigress
>”I apologize for breaking the news to you like this. In spite of these recent developments, I hope I can trust the two of you to continue performing at your usual level of professionalism. I’m sure...I’m sure h-he would have wanted the same...from everyone.”
>Sherry-K stands like a statue, except for her writing, trembling paws
>The tigress doesn’t say another word, just keeping her back to you
>Keeping the silence heavy, her emotions blank, and leaving you and Rox to exit her office with a pall of gloom still hanging in the air
>You think Rox must have held her breath the whole time, not even blinking as you resume your trip to the Whimsical Knights backstage
>So of course it startles you a little when she lets out a sharp, sudden laugh that sounds more like a cough
>She’s shown her sadness before, but not this kind of grief
>It’s kind of a foreign emotion for her, and she can only express it with weird, broken chuckles and misplaced humor
>”Boy, that’s a shitty, shitty way to start off a shift, h-hah,” Rox says, still not blinking
>You put your arms around her, but the wolfess doesn’t respond as she normally would
>The tragic news completely stupefied her, sending her mind far away as she processes what she just heard
>But the more you hold her — squeeze her — the more she gradually comes back to reality
>”I would...really like to hear what Whimsey has to say tomorrow,” she says. “You, uh, think you want to go?”
>You feel like you’re obligated to
>It wouldn’t be right to miss it; not after the kindness and support Chobbo showed the two of you
>”Y-yeah...thanks,” Rox says, as though thanking you for a deeply personal request of her own
>Today’s going to be a struggle, that’s guaranteed
>And tomorrow feels like such a long way off



[[ CHAPTER 38: Psychedelic Rox ]]

>There’s a dismal smog over Whimsey World unlike any you’ve ever seen before
>This amount of gloom in what is always heralded as the “happiest place on the face of the planet” shouldn’t ever exist
>As an employee, you know full well that it’s not always smiles and forced positivity, but to see these looks of sorrow and defeat amongst your coworkers makes it feel as though the park was struck with an apocalyptic catastrophe
>For the anthros of the park, it might as well be
>Whimsey Jr. may be the face of the entire company, but Chobbo was the one many of them looked up to
>The old dog knew what it was like to have to live in secrecy, more than his closest human friend ever will, yet he always maintained a sense of optimism and joy
>And in the short time you’ve known him, it feels like he made an impact on you as well
>The news of Chobbo’s passing has already hit ever corner of the park, if not the entirety of anthro society by now, and despite the anthros’ best efforts to stay strong their pain seems to be leaking out into the rest of the grounds
>Over the course of your shift you hear the frustrations of the coordinators as they are given reports about how the performance quality of the employees is slipping
>The human guests have no clue what’s really happening behind the scenes, but they’re starting to suspect something’s wrong
>There are anthros running the rides, cooking the food, and answering customer service phone calls, and from the sounds of it there are a lot of slowdowns and mistakes being made
>All of the anthros in the mascot costumes are pulled from their positions and replaced with human performers for the day, and soon the anthro tunnels are barren from so many employees being sent home early
>In spite of everything, the newest trio of Whimsical Knights tries their best to keep their emotions out of their rehearsals
>Rox dances with most of the intensity she’s been putting into her usual practice, though her faked smile looks pained in a way that makes you think of someone constantly stepping on nails
>Blue and Lulu, meanwhile, are visibly distraught and make minor mistakes with each practice attempt
>Being quite a bit older than either you or Rox, they’ve no doubt known about (and looked up to) Chobbo much longer
>Eventually, even the coordinators seem too shaken up to continue rehearsal, and you’re all set free for the evening
>”We’ll pick it up tomorrow...” the mouse coordinator sighs before shuffling off with a slumped back
>No longer obligated to maintain her smile, Rox’s lips and ears droop down low
>You ask if she’s all right, and after a short pause the wolfess nods her head slowly
>”I will be, don’t worry,” she says. “But...hey, if we’re already done for the day, there’s something I want to do quickly before we head out.”
>She doesn’t say anything else as you shed your costumes and make your way through the tunnels
>You’re not heading toward the parking lot, though; she’s leading you deeper into the park grounds toward Rumble Rolloff
>None of the anthros working behind the scenes pay you any attention — just as glum as the rest of their peers — as you slip into the attraction’s backstage and through a familiar hidden passage
>Back to Rox World
>The chalkboard above the makeshift ticket booth advertising [ ____ World ] looks like it’s been written over and erased several times since you’ve last been here, though you can faintly see Rox’s ghostly name in the cloud of smudges
>The wolfess grabs some chalk and begins to write on the sign in large, thick letters
>You can guess what she’s doing from the first stroke she makes
>[ Chobbo World ]
>With little cartoon dog faces in the O’s
>Rox steps back to admire her handiwork, standing in silence and rolling the stick of chalk around in her paw
>You were almost expecting her to break down now that the two of you are somewhat alone, but the wolfess remains surprisingly resolute
>”We’re gonna miss you, buddy...” she mumbles, then flicks the moisture off her nose
>You give Rox some comfort in your arms, and she holds you tightly in return
>She rubs you on the cheek, then laughs in embarrassment
>”Whoops! Sorry, Anon,” she says, dusting the chalk off your face
>Rox wipes your cheek a bit before giving it a wet kiss to make up for it
>Seems she’s holding out much better than you feared she would
>”Yeah...I think I’ll pull through,” Rox says. “He was kind of a legend to all of us, but...I guess we never really knew him for too long, did we?. Probably would have been harder news to stomach if we were much closer to the guy. Still...man, this sucks. He was such a sweet dog, and funny as hell. I can’t imagine how the others are taking it.”
>Rox grimaces at the thought
>”Like Chee. The girl’s probably going to be beside herself when we get back home. Ah, we should get going so she’s not alone.”
>Rox walks up to the guest book and signs both of your names, leaving one final goodbye message to the old beagle
>”Thanks for everything, Chobbo,” she says. “We’ll keep your secret little part of the park running, I promise.”

>Rox sure called it
>Poor Chee must have been in the park no more than 10 minutes before getting sent home with massive tears in her eyes
>You might have even passed her on the roads when you and Rox were heading IN to work
>Rox doesn’t even make it halfway into the apartment before the bird throws herself at the wolfess, sobbing wildly
>It’s Rox’s turn to be the supportive roommate, though you can tell she’s misting up a bit as well just from listening to the sheer grief of the bird
>The two girls spend the rest of the day hugging on the couch, with Rox only getting some freedom when she pries herself away to make dinner for everyone
>You’re her placeholder in the meantime, wrapped up in Chee’s wings as the oriole resumes crying into your shoulder
>It’s soul crushing to hear the bird like this, but all you can do is let her get it all out
>For once, this isn’t sadness coming from uncertainty of the future
>It’s not like before when you were all scared Rox would be fired or Chee would have to quit her job
>Someone important may have left your lives, but the rest of your family is still here to carry the weight
>”How about a movie?” Rox says
>She pops “Frostbitten” in and the sobs of the young bird are downgraded to gentle hiccups
>For all the times Chee’s seen her favorite Whimsey film, it still manages to work its magic on her
>And for reasons not entirely certain to you, even Rox hums along to the songs
>The three of you watch the movie together all huddled in one big embrace, and by the time the credits roll everyone’s ready for bed
>Chee looks exhausted from a day’s worth of crying, and Rox tucks her in before coming to join you
>”She’ll be fine,” the wolfess whispers, as though there were any doubt
>There’s just too much bubbly positivity in the bird to keep her down for too long
>The next day arrives with the uncomfortable reminder of what the previous one brought, but Chee seems much better after a good night’s sleep
>Though the gray clouds still hang overhead, most of the anthros in the park appear to have accepted Chobbo’s passing
>Many still have heavy hearts, but others have come to the understanding that their dear friend and idol would have wanted them to focus on what matters most: bringing happiness to others
>Unfortunately, the mood will get worse one more time before it can get better
>There’s still the meeting with Whimsey Jr.
>The entire conference hall over in the Cast Complex is packed with anthros late in the evening
>Only a few anthro employees remained at their stations to help close the park — those who never had much of a connection to the beagle, or those who are too stricken with emotional agony to face reality quite yet — but just about everyone else showed up for the occasion
>A squad of coordinators and upper management is lined up by the podium, waiting for the man himself to arrive
>For just how many bodies there are in the room — animalistic ones at that — it’s disturbingly quiet apart from a few scattered sniffles
>You can only imagine this must be how everyone else in the company reacted when D. Whimsey Sr. passed away all those years ago
>That may have been even worse, as the man touched the hearts of both humans AND anthros
>Whimsey Jr. finally arrives once all the seats have been filled, walking up to the podium as though approaching the gallows for his own execution
>He looks as though he aged at least ten years since you’ve last seen him, and the smile he always had with him is absent
>The only strength he has is in the hands strongly gripping the corners of the podium, and you suspect that’s only to keep them from visibly shaking in front of everyone
>”Thank you for joining me tonight, my friends,” he croaks, barely audible over the microphone
>His voice elicits a few hushed sobs from the audience
>It takes Mr. Whimsey another minute before proceeding
>”I haven’t asked you all here to go over what you’ve already been told. I trust the news has been thoroughly spread by now, and...frankly, I still don’t want to believe it myself. We’ve lost a dear friend, and he will be on our minds for the unforeseeable future as we prepare to give him the proper sendoff he deserves. For those interested in honoring him, I will keep you all abreast of what we have in mind.”
>Mr. Whimsey swallows so strongly you can the lump travel down his wrinkled throat
>”When my father adopted Chobbo as a pup, he told me I had a new brother. Growing up surrounded by Whimsey films, having a canine sibling wasn’t out of the ordinary to me. My father made the reality he wanted to see in his work, and that became my reality as well. I understood the gravity of having to keep my brother hidden from the rest of the company, and the world as well, but that never obstructed the love we shared with him. We were not ashamed of him; we merely wanted to protect what was most special to our family. As far as I’m concerned, my mother always had two sons: a slobbering, hairy troublemaker...and Chobbo.”
>A corner of Whimsey’s mouth is tugged up with a smirk as sparse chuckling comes from the audience
>His hands begin to shake and his cheeks quiver, but there’s conviction in his eyes
>”He’s laughing at me now, too,” Whimsey says. “I know it. Never failed to see the humor in a bad situation, whether it was at my expense or his own. If there’s any lesson to take away from this moment, it’s to always keep that attitude our father always carried with him. It’s not easy to force a smile or forgive someone for his or her anger, but it’s even harder to carry a bitterness that you don’t deserve to be burdened with. We’re all deserving of happiness. Every last one of us.”
>A haunting chill runs up your spine at his words, and you think back to the day you spent at the Cast Complex with Rox and Chee
>The day you watched the last recorded speech by D. Whimsey Sr.
>Old man Whimsey’s final words to the public are channeled into his son, and Whimsey Junior — for one brief moment — almost seems to take on the very aura of his father
>He looks from one face to another, giving everyone a personal look of respect and love
>”We’re all deserving,” Whimsey says again. “Make each day magical; not just for yourself, but everyone around you as well. I’m so, so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together; proud of all of you. No doubt many of you have already heard rumbles of what we have in store, and in a few short weeks we’ll be unveiling the next step in our mission to introduce all of you to the humans. We’ve already made wonderful strides in bringing one in to our world....”
>Mr. Whimsey hones in on where you’re sitting, and you can feel dozens of gazes follow him to you
>”...And I’d like to thank him for his patience and cooperation. I’d like to thank all of you for the same, as well. The changes we’ve made might have been frightening to some of you, but I’m pleased with how much we’ve grown in such a small amount of time. To see so many beautiful individuals from both worlds sharing the same space is something my father always dreamed of, and when the day comes I finally join my dear friend and brother...I hope all of you will carry that dream on as well in our place. Thank you all for joining me tonight, and I wish you...all the best.”
>There’s not a dry eye in the conference hall when Mr. Whimsey finishes his speech

>The Booze Cruise
>Everyone has the same idea after a day like this one
>You’ve never seen the bar this packed before
>Just finding a table was a challenge in and of itself, and you’ve managed to squeeze a group of five around one of the smallest in the place
>Joining you and your roommates are Sherry-K and Mionra
>Surprisingly, it didn’t take much convincing to get the tigress to come along this time
>Either she was looking forward to a therapeutic shot or two herself, or she’s finally coming out of her shell
>Having a cute vixen girlfriend like Mionra for moral support probably helps as well
>Everyone has someone to sit with tonight, whether they want to or not
>Even the bartender doesn’t want to be on the other side of the counter all by himself; Cookie the panda shovels pretzels into his mouth as a few other anthros pat him on the back reassuringly
>Down below on the human level, the crowd is thinner yet no more jovial
>It’s as though the dower mood of the anthros is seeping through the walls, making the barflies on the other side of the protective glass just as gloomy for reasons they don’t understand
>The only happy faces in the entire bar are the two in the framed picture high up on the wall: the faces belonging to the late Darwin Whimsey Senior and Chobbo in their most iconic moment together
>Some of the anthros stare at the picture with unbroken stillness, while others are deliberately averting their eyes so they don’t break down in tears yet again
>At your own table, Rox appears to be taking the situation better than the others, though she has a bit of a grumpy demeanor influenced by a bit of alcohol
>”This sucks,” she grumbles again for what feels like the dozenth time today. “He was supposed to be there for the new show....”
>”Roksa,” Sherry-K sighs. “Think of his family. Their mourning is what’s most important right now. This is a little more serious than a parent not showing up to a dance recital.”
>”He was part of our family as well,” Rox grumbles, throwing back her drink
>”Speaking of which,” the tigress continues, “I was instructed to remind you of the deadline regarding invitations for the debut performance. Is there anyone in your immediate family you would like to attend on opening night?”
>”I’ll get back to you on that,” Rox mutters, barely audible
>Even the way the two girls banter doesn’t have the same liveliness as usual
>Chee is the most heartbroken of the whole group, and for once she’s nearly keeping pace with Rox in terms of drinks
>This puts a worried look on Mionra’s muzzle, no doubt because the vixen has been Chee’s friend possibly just as long as Rox has
>Mionra digs into her purse and pulls out a brightly-striped bowtie, holding it out daintily in her paw for the bird
>”Chee,” Mionra says sweetly. “If it would make you feel better, would you like something of Chobbo’s for your collection?”
>The sad oriole looks as though Mionra just offered to bring the dog back from the dead, and her wings shake as she accepts the bowtie with awe
>”This...C-Chobbo’s...?” Chee whispers
>”Mmhmm, that’s right,” Mionra says. “Came across it when I was cleaning out my old place for the, ah, ‘move.’”
>She gives Sherry-K a wink, who tries her best to hide her proud grin
>”Anyway,” Mionra continues, “I’ve had it almost as long as I started working here. It was in my first week, and costuming had run out of uniforms for Ratty ol’ Mansion in my size. I had to use a larger one with a few missing buttons at the collar. Well, to make a long story short, I ran into Chobbo one day and he gave me his bowtie to hold my uniform together. I even offered to return it to him later, but he wouldn’t accept it. It was a little while before I realized just how important he was to the company, and once I did I made sure to keep the bowtie safe ever since. Kept it hidden away ever since.”
>”Heh, are you sure they didn’t make you stop wearing it because it wasn’t part of the ‘standardized employee dress code’?” Rox sneers
>Sherry-K turns up her nose dismissively, but Mionra pats her on the paw to cool the tigress down
>At least the banter is getting back to its usual level
>”T-thank you, Mionra,” Chee sniffs. “I’ll make sure to keep it just as safe as you did...for Chobbo!”
>Rox gives a glance to the portrait of Mr. Whimsey and Chobbo, then she holds up her glass
>”For Chobbo,” she repeats. “And to the new show. He’s got the best seats in the house now, so let’s give him something to be entertained by!”
>Everyone else at the table grabs their glass and gives a toast to the beagle’s memory
>Several other nearby anthros join in as well, and a friendly warmth grows in the bar
>After everyone finishes their drinks, Sherry-K rises from the table and excuses herself to go to the little kittens’ room
>Once out of earshot, Rox leans in closer to Mionra
>”This might be bad timing considering the, erm, last day,” the wolfess says, “but I gotta say, Mio, you must be doing something right. Sher’s been looking a lot happier overall ever since you two got together.”
>”You really think so?” the vixen replies
>Chee nods her head confidently
>”I think so, too! You both seem like really close friends!”
>”Yeah, ‘friends’,” Rox snickers
>Mionra swirls the last few drops of her drink around her glass, scrunching her face up as she tries to find the right words
>”There’s something I should tell you...SHOULDN’T tell you, actually,” she says. “But...well, I think it’s important to say. Plus, I’ve never been too good with secrets, as I’m sure you both know.”
>You catch Rox’s golden eyes do a quick roll
>Mionra pauses for a while, but once she realizes she’s under a time limit she suddenly speaks in a much more hurried, yet still hushed tone
>”I think Sher is more positive now, too,” the vixen says. “Which is why I didn’t want to say anything before. Still, I think it’s important to let her closest friends know there was a time — pretty recently, actually — that she...well...was thinking of quitting her job here.”
>Chee opens her beak to cry out in surprise, but Rox manages to catch her in time
>That doesn’t stop the wolfess from looking just as shocked, however
>”W-what!?” Rox hisses
>Mionra waves her paws frantically, trying to calm the girls down so they don’t draw attention to the table
>”It’s as I said: I think she’s feeling better about it now, and I don’t believe she intends on leaving us anytime soon. But even so...the stress was really getting to her; you all know that, right? Once she started packing up and getting rid of a lot of her Whimsey things, I think she got ahead of herself. She was overdoing it, like she was just about ready to close the book on this place and throw her whole life here away. I had to beg her myself to reconsider.”
>Chee whimpers through her closed beak, and Rox exhales deeply
>”Damn, Mio,” the wolfess says. “Nice job. Glad you were there to talk her out of it.”
>”Well, truthfully...” the vixen says, “I think the thanks goes to you. All three of you.”
>Mionra’s eyes narrow and a wide smile stretches across her muzzle, giving her a very “happy trickster fox” sort of look you’ve seen before in Whimsey cartoons
>”Sher hasn’t stopped talking about the show ever since rehearsals started,” the vixen says. “She’s EXTREMELY excited about it, even if she doesn’t show it much around work. You’ve all given her something to look forward to each day, and I can’t wait to see her reaction to the big debut...maybe even more so than seeing the show itself! So if there’s anyone who can take the credit for making her want to stay in Whimsey World, it’s you guys.”
>The vixen reaches out and gives everyone — hand, paw, or wing — a gentle squeeze
>”And that’s all I need to get through the day myself. You’ve helped me meet a great tiger, and you’ve helped bring out the wonderful side of her little by little. I never thought we’d see her go from such a cold person to the fuzzy sister figure she’s become to us all. As long as we’re all here together, I wouldn’t want things any other way. Thank you, Rox...Chee...Anon...and good luck to all of you at Whimsical Knights!”
>Rox nods thoughtfully, but her face suddenly contorts to a more inquisitive expression
>”Haaang on, Mio,” she says. “What exactly does Chee have to do with the show, though?”
>The bird makes a muffled peep and the vixen clamps her own mouth shut
>Mionra wasn’t kidding about her loose lips
>The two of them just shake their heads nervously as Rox looks from one guilty face to the other
>Now those two poor girls have another reason to look forward to the show’s debut: no longer worrying about spoiling their secrets



[[ CHAPTER 39: Rox Band ]]

>Every day since Mr. Whimsey’s speech has felt like one big training montage, like in the movies
>Determined to put on the best show possible in honor of Chobbo’s memory, Rox dials up her effort in the performance rehearsals to a level you didn’t think was possible
>You’re exhausted by the end of the day just from watching her
>Which is doubly ironic, because it feels like you’ve used your own legs less and less recently as the wolfess carries you under her arm to and from work constantly
>Just like the old days
>Even on the weekend she tries to fit in a little bit of practice at the apartment, much to the chagrin of your mutual avian roommate
>Not only does Rox forbid Chee from watching, but the bird is basically held hostage in her own room while the wolfess runs through the motions
>You can hear Chee whining from her room frequently, as though she’s on the verge of exploding
>She quietly opens her bedroom door one evening, only to get a mouthful from Rox
>”Chee, I told you no spying!” the wolfess barks
>”Roxieee!” Chee cries. “I have to go to the bathroom!”
>”Fine, make it quick!”
>Chee sprints into the bathroom, shielding her eyes with her wings so she doesn’t accidentally peek at anything she shouldn’t
>Poor girl’s going to start molting from the secondhand stress...
>You do what you can to ease Rox’s nerves with the usual scratches and rubs, hoping she’ll stop taking her own anxiety out on the bird
>Her throat rumbles in pleasure against your fingertips as you dig into the scruff of her neck
>”Take your time in there, Chee,” Rox sighs. “We’re done for the day anyway.”
>You and Rox take a breather on the couch as you get the sweet spot behind her ears
>She only breaks out of her euphoric trance when Chee finally exits the bathroom, and the wolfess once again apologizes to her roommate for the outburst
>Thankfully, the young bird continues to be understanding and supportive
>”You just want to be ready, Roxie,” Chee says as the two girls hug it out. “I know you mean well. Once the big night is over, you’ll feel much better!”
>”Yeah, you’re right,” Rox mumbles. “But I’m going to make it up to you for acting like such a hothead, trust me. First day we’re all off together, we’re doing something fun to let loose.”
>”Great! Do you have something in mind...or is it another surprise?”
>Rox chuckles at Chee’s little pout when she says “surprise”
>”Nope, can’t spoil anything,” Rox says. “Sorry. I think you’re gonna like it, though! There’s a secret to the park I don’t think even YOU know about....”
>Chee blinks, taken aback by the comment
>”Wh...? No, that’s not possible!” she says. “I know the whole park inside and out!”
>Rox gives you a sly wink
>”Oh, believe me, Chee. There’s still a little piece of Whimsey World you haven’t discovered yet, courtesy of ol’ Chobbo. Been waiting for the right time to show you. We’ll even call it ‘Chee World’ just for you! Doesn’t that make you excited to find it?”
>”OOOoooooohhhaaaaaaRoxieeeeee! Why are you torturing meee?”
>Rox just laughs at the poor bird’s frustration, holding her tight and spinning her in circles
>For how much the two girls have grown since you met them, they still find a way to get under each other’s skin
>Or fur, or feathers...
>It’s the natural way of the life for these two, though, and something wouldn’t feel right if you never got caught in the middle of their squabbling anymore like when you were first brought into the anthro world
>Just like the old days

>The night has arrived at last
>The very first Whimsical Knights show since it reopened; the first show to kick off the next phase of the mascot initiative
>Any tension you’re feeling tonight has to be plaguing Rox tenfold
>She hasn’t slept since yesterday, nor does it seem like she’s blinked a single time
>You both changed into your costumes at the very start of your shift, but for the last couple of hours you’ve been waiting for the big moment
>Sitting backstage nervously until the second act comes
>The show hasn’t even begun yet, adding to the suspense with every passing minute
>From what you’ve been told, both the human and anthro sections of the audience have been completely filled tonight
>Members of the press and diehard Whimsey fans forced their way into the seats ahead of the regular guests, making this a particularly important crowd to have to impress for a debut performance
>Everyone knows something new was added to the show, but Whimsey management miraculously kept the surprise under wraps the entire time up until now
>You haven’t been this pressured (and concerned for your life) to keep a secret since your introduction to the anthro world
>You’ve been told countless times how much the anthros have learned to trust you and accept you, but with the whole world watching tonight you have a dreaded, familiar feeling that your every move is going to be scrutinized
>Their eyes are going to be on you probably more intensely than any of the actual performers, making sure you don’t try to pull anything brash or stupid
>Well, at least the ones who matter most to you wouldn’t dare question their trust in you
>You take Rox’s large paw in your hand, and her digits curl over your fingers reflexively
>She breaks out of her meditative silence to give you a thankful smile
>”The waiting’s killing me,” she groans softly
>It won’t be too long now before the show begins, but the anxiety will only build from the second it does
>Like moving from the waiting room to the doctor’s examining table; you’re getting closer to the end, but the worst still hasn’t started yet
>Is it Rox’s pulse you can feel in her paw pads, or is she giving you little rhythmic squeezes?
>Her breathing gets quicker but her eyes droop dreamily
>Not sleepiness or fatigue, but infatuation
>You are her trusted reserve of energy, encouragement, and security
>She opens her mouth — either to say something or maybe to swoop in for a quick kiss — only to be interrupted by someone clearing their throat
>”Need I remind you two of workplace dating and open displays of affection AGAIN?”
>Sherry-K, of course
>The tigress drums her claws on her clipboard and her tail swishes like a predator ready to pounce, but rather than a stern expression her lips have a crooked hint of coyness to them
>”W-what?” Rox scoffs. “You came all the way from your office to peep on us like a weirdo or something? This isn’t your side of the park!”
>”The entire park is ‘my side’, Roksa,” Sherry-K says. “I simply choose to patrol the parts I feel are most likely to suffer operations complications...or produce troublemakers.”
>”Ha, so you ARE stalking us, then,” Rox says, sticking her tongue out
>”Perhaps.”
>The tigress paces closer, glancing from Rox to you, back and forth
>She shakes her head and clicks her tongue, taking in both of your costumes but reserving her harshest judgment for the Rook-Woof outfit
>”No semblance of coordination or synergy with those colors,” Sherry-K says. “I’m impressed. I didn’t think they could invent a costume even louder than the person wearing them.”
>A few months ago you would have expected a fight to break out between the two, but the tigress’ catty remarks just makes Rox grin smugly
>Much like the Rox versus Chee fights, the banter between wolfess and tigress is as normal as things could get
>”You always know the right thing to say, Sher,” Rox says. “Is your plan to keep us distracted until we hit the stage, so we aren’t sitting here sweating it the whole time?”
>”Absolutely not,” Sherry-K says. “After all, the Roksa I know would never be fretting something like this. Not even after callously dragging a human into our organization, I remind you.”
>”Heh, I might not be scared when you write me up for something, but I still have my limits,” Rox says. “I think you’re giving me too much credit.”
>”How many times must I repeat myself?” Sherry-K says firmly. “I mean everything I say with the utmost sincerity. You may not appreciate it when I lecture or punish you, but I will always give out my honest feedback whenever possible. I won’t hand out praises unless I genuinely mean them, and I’ve known you far too long to be convinced a little stage fright will stop you from leaping out there with overabundant confidence...and doing something I’ll surely have to reprimand you for later.”
>”Aww, Sher...” Rox says. “That’s so touching...I think.”
>Sherry-K’s grassy eyes meet your own, and sure enough there’s sincerity in the tigress’ eyes not unlike the night she spilled her soul to you in her apartment
>Sincerity AND respect
>”You deserve similar praise, Anon,” the tigress says. “Of course we’ve given our gratitude numerous times regarding your confidentiality and patience during this whole...transition. That we cannot stress enough. However, more attention should be given to what you’ve done to help our company...our family...and each of us individually. I don’t believe I need to explain the ways you’ve helped our friends and coworkers during your employment here, but I would like to thank you for all of it. Not since D. Whimsey Jr. himself have I ever met a more admirable human.”
>If you and Rox weren’t practically joined at the hip at all times — and Sherry-K could pry you away privately for just a moment — she would no doubt be much more candid about what she really means
>Rox may have discovered how Sherry-K truly feels about her, but the moment of weakness the tigress confided in you that night at her place remains between you and her alone
>She knows that nobody else knows, and so for the first time since that fateful night you can clearly see the respect Sherry-K has for you
>It’s not easy blabbing about a society of animal people to the whole world, but it can be even harder to keep a juicy, potentially damaging bit of workplace gossip under your hat for so long
>You have the assurance that you’re finally on Sherry-K’s best possible side
>...At least as long as she’s in the best possible mood
>There is so much fuzzy warmth in the room that a swell of music echoes around you, first figuratively, and then literally
>Rox inhales sharply at the music, bracing herself for the start of Whimsical Knights
>It’s time
>In just a few seconds, you’ll hear the booming voice of the announcer welcoming all the guests to the show and hyping them up for what’s in store
>A voice that has meant relatively little to you in the past, yet now has a LOT more significance
>But that particular voice never comes
>{“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls!”}
>It’s not the deep tone of a male’s voice, but the airy, singsong pitch of a female’s
>A voice you know all too well
>Rox’s mouth swings open, like someone just stepped on her tail
>”CHEE?” she sputters. “When did she...!?”
>”You’re surprised?” Sherry-K says. “Chee was promoted to Senior Supervisor of Park Operations for good reason. She has the energy and the love for the Whimsey brand that is virtually unmatched by anyone within the company. When management was brainstorming how to revitalize other aspects of the show aside from just the second act, they turned to Chee and asked to record her voice for the entire Whimsical Knights narration. Needless to say, she was eager to accept the role. Hmm, I would have assumed you two of all people would have been the first ones to hear the news.”
>”Thatta’ girl!” Rox says, ignoring the tigress’ snark. “No wonder she wanted to keep that a secret!”
>Even with the Whimsical Knights spiel already engrained into your mind, it sounds fresh and captivating when delivered by the cheerful bird
>You don’t doubt that Chee would easily voice each night’s performance herself if given the chance, rather than just use a recording
>”So, now that she’s officially part of the show, is she getting one of the front row seats to check it out?” Rox says
>Sherry-K shakes her head amusedly
>”Always devoted to her work, that one. Chee has unfortunately declined the offer. She will be continuing her shift at Little Happy Planet as usual. However, I’m certain she will be keeping at least ONE of the backstage monitors tuned in to the performance. D. Whimsey Jr. has decided to do a live broadcast of tonight’s performance; it will be available for public viewing on The Whimsey Channel so that everyone can experience the reveal together.”
>Humans and anthros across the world will get to see it, then
>That’s an extra layer of pressure you didn’t really need right now
>That doesn’t seem to bother Rox, but something else is on her mind
>”Speaking of audiences...” she begins hesitantly
>Sherry-K nods knowingly, relieving the wolfess having to ask the question herself
>”Both of your invitees are in attendance. I believe they have already been shown their seats. Separate, as you requested.”
>”Great, thanks,” Rox mutters
>If there’s any saving grace to having Rox’s parents in the audience, it’s that at least there’s a one-way mirror that the anthros are watching from behind
>It’ll help keep Rox’s mind off of her mom and dad if she can’t actually see them once she’s up on stage
>You listen to Chee set the scene for the opening act for a while, until you’re joined by the remaining two performers of your team
>The Blue Suede Bear and Lulu-by the Orangutan look pretty nervous themselves, but their smiles keep them standing strong
>”How you holdin’ up, hon?” Lulu says to Rox
>”Just peachy,” Rox swallows
>”If you got the jitters, just let them carry your feet,” Blue rumbles, tapping his toes. “Works for me every new show. Don’t you worry, little missy. It’ll only get easier from here, uh-huh.”
>”I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.”
>You share a group huddle with the Whimsical Knights
>Everyone has their own role to carry out and their own cues to follow, but it’s a team effort to succeed
>That’s a lesson you were taught back when you first starting working at Whimsey World; no matter how badly the day beats you down, you’re at least sharing the misery with a bunch of people who know exactly what you’re going through
>Sherry-K gives you time to enjoy the comradery of the Whimsical Knights, but as the first act rapidly approaches its conclusion the tigress hovers close by
>”If you wouldn’t mind, please take your positions,” she says
>You and the three anthros stand on the stage lifts, and the roof above your heads slowly opens up
>A smoky mist drifts down from outside, creating an obscuring haze for you to enter through
>The platform beneath you rumbles, then lifts you toward the stage above
>”Good luck, all of you,” Sherry-K says, while the other show coordinators salute and cheer you on
>You give Rox a look of encouragement before the smoke engulfs her completely
>The next time you see her, she’ll be Rokk-Woof for real
>The music is in the lull between tracks and the crowd is quiet in anticipation, making the ascent a very surreal, still feeling
>The mist is cool against what little of your skin shows through the costume, giving you a brief, chilling refreshment before you are thrust into the balmy night air
>Showtime

>{“Our heroes will need some extra support to beat those nasty villains! Luckily, help is on the way to give them a boost of confidence!”}
>Chee’s voice echoes through the park as the audience continues to hold their breath
>The stage lights are off, but you can see all the little trinkets and souvenirs of the guests glowing throughout the audience like multicolored fireflies
>Glow sticks, light bracelets, and the occasional camera blink hastily made before the guest is reminded not to use flash photography
>You don’t need to see the whole crowd to know just how massively packed the theater is
>Like a wall of humans that blocks sight of the rest of the park
>The Whimsical Knights theater is the biggest one on Whimsey Grounds, and you’ve never seen so many guests concentrated in one spot
>And somewhere beneath them, even more are watching
>You can picture all the species of anthros on the edge of their seats, praying the show will go off without a hitch just as much as they are hoping to get an entertaining performance from the second act
>Again, you’re really thankful for the one-way mirror hiding them from your vision
>A powerful gust from a wind machine blows away the mist, and each of the three anthros are illuminated with a powerful spotlight
>That’s when you spring into action
>The crowd applauds in excitement as you hop down from your platform to assist the other Fan-Ons, each one a unique neon color and style
>You slide chunks of the new stage together and sweep debris from the last act away, turning the set into an entirely different landscape in seconds
>One by one, the anthros come to life
>First Rox, striking a few electric poses and strumming away at an air guitar
>Then Lulu, blowing a few shrill notes on her saxophone
>And finally Blue, rocking his hips like he’s trying to keep an invisible hula-hoop going
>The applause from the crowd quickly dies down and is replaced by gasps of surprise and awe
>You can instantly read the expressions on their faces; many of them clearly thinking things such as, “They look so lifelike!” and “How are they doing that?”
>Meanwhile, you look from one anthro performer to another and try to imagine them just being some human in an elaborate character suit, hoping the illusion hasn’t already been broken
>You can see why the guests are so impressed: it’s pretty difficult to tell yourself these two-legged animal people aren’t real
>You’ve been living with them for a few months now, but it’s almost as if you’re seeing them for the first time
>Technically, you are
>Rox is finally performing amongst the humans, no longer confined to her bulky mascot suit
>She still can’t move her mouth or swing her tail too much, but it’s really her out here — fur and all
>Each of the anthros gets their own time to shine, complete with a musical leitmotif composed in the style of their outfit
>Rokk-Woof starts the rotation off with a rock ballad for the ages, jamming out to everything from classic to techno with amazing speed and footwork
>She moves from one end of the set to the other with staggering speed, jumping at the crash of cymbals and sliding with the riffs of guitars
>She was born to play this role
>There’s a hint of her old Whirly Barf routine in her motions, but everything else seems tailored specifically to her new persona
>The other Fan-Ons are scattered all over the stage, hanging around like the Rokk-Woof groupies they are but luckily instructed not to get too close to their “idol”
>You’re the only one she approaches directly, slapping your hand each time she passes by
>The nerves are all gone, and she’s completely in her element
>Rox parades around with such confidence and grace you nearly forget it’s the wolfess you’ve fallen in love with
>With a spin and a flip, she makes one last pose before the final cords of her solo reverberate through the stage
>It’s enough to earn her another round of applause, and you join in with the audience
>The music transitions to a smoother, jazzy melody as Lulu takes center stage with her instrument, but Rox isn’t finished showing off just yet
>She’s staring directly at you, then points to a spot right beside you
>You look over your shoulder to see a young human girl leaning against the front-row guardrail with her mouth agape and her eyes filled with wonder
>When you glance back to Rox, the wolfess nods firmly
>Her part in the performance is done for now; she doesn’t have to do anything else except wait for Blue to wrap things up
>She SHOULDN’T be doing anything else, really
>You know what she wants to do, and what she wants to do isn’t in the script
>Nor do you think she could get away with it
>But something inside compels you to follow her lead, and before you know it you’re returning her nod
>You face the young girl and offer your hand
>To the girl and her parents, this is just part of the show
>The small human child doesn’t hesitate to grab your hand, and she hops up and down as you lead her from the audience seating up the steps to the stage where Rokk-Woof is kneeling in wait
>Just as Rox whisked you away that unforgettable evening into the world of the anthros, now it’s your turn
>You guide the girl up to the wolfess silently
>The two are frozen in place for what feels like forever
>Neither one blinking or saying a word
>At last, Rox takes the first move, reaching out and tussling the young girl’s hair
>She pats the girl on the back gently and then bops her lightly on the nose, and the girl’s eyes manage to get even wider
>This is probably what Chee would look like as a human child, with her mouth open and her eyes sparkling with fantasy
>The two finish their interaction with a high-five, and Rox lets you take the girl by the hand again to return to her seat
>Now you’re the one the little girl is looking at with those saucer-plate eyes
>”Is she...real?” the little girl says breathlessly
>What do you say?
>A long time ago at Whimsey Orientation — what feels like another lifetime by now — you were taught the rules and philosophies of the company, set in stone and passed down from D. Whimsey Sr. himself
>There was one in particular that management always stressed above any other: the magic is always real
>Everything you see in Whimsey World is genuine, and the moment you step past the main gates the only barrier remaining is your own imagination
>You just aren’t instructed to act out your role, you’re encouraged to live it and believe it
>Whirly Barf is a real character
>Starlight Summit is a real place
>And every automatic door in the park is really the spirit of D. Whimsey himself, personally ushering you through the threshold with promise of adventure and priceless memories
>So when this little girl asks you if the anthropomorphic wolf in the rocker costume she just met is a real creature, what choice do you have?
>It’s in your very job description to tell her the honest truth
>You give the girl a discreet nod, hoping you don’t suddenly have crosshairs lined up on your head from someone hidden in the shadows
>But disbelief is perhaps Whimsey World’s biggest defense for the anthros, and nobody the little girl tells is going to believe her when she enthusiastically tries to tell them Rokk-Woof is real
>It’s a little sad, but maybe she’ll hang on to this moment until the day she’ll finally get to discover the truth
>Maybe you’ve even created a future Whimsey employee, one who will return someday looking for anthros the same way anthros like Rox came here looking for humans to meet
>The girl’s parents are fervently snapping pictures on their cameras as you guide her back to her seat, trying to immortalize the beaming smile she has
>Surprisingly, she doesn’t immediately blurt out about meeting a real anthropomorphic wolf
>Maybe she’ll keep it as her own secret after all?
>Well, as long as you don’t hear about this from an enraged Sherry-K the second you’re backstage...
>And at least you won’t be alone in your deed, either
>Following Rox’s lead, Blue had his own encounter with a young audience member while Lulu played her Saxophone solo, and once it’s time for the bear’s opportunity in the spotlight — gyrating around the stage to some old, funky rock — the orangutan takes her own turn greeting some guests
>The audience loves it just as much as the children do, but none of them are enjoying this moment quite like the anthros are
>You can tell they’re trying their hardest to remain stoic and keep up the facade of wearing masks, but the sheer rapture they’re overcome with gives away some subtle clues in their faces
>The second act flies by before you know it, and soon you’re joining Rokk-Woof on her platform
>She claps you on the shoulder and you all wave goodbyes to the crowd, right before the four of you disappear into the mists again and descend underground
>Not even the fireworks finale gets as much applause as the Whimsical Knights are getting right now

>The cheers continue on as you’re lowered backstage, and you’re quickly surrounded by coordinators and anthro employees waiting to celebrate the overwhelming success
>Though the anthro characters get more (admittedly deserved) credit than just the green human Fan-On, both Blue and Lulu grab hold of you in joy as they’re caught up with emotion
>”Oh, I feel so young again!” Lulu says, flicking away a drop of moisture from her eye
>”I hear you, pretty mama,” Blue sniffs. “Never thought this old bear would ever get that kind of love again.”
>There isn’t much room for Rox to squeeze in, but she’s already looking out for someone else to celebrate with
>The wolfess darts through the cluster of coordinators toward Sherry-K
>The tigress casually flings her clipboard away and braces for the hug that Rox tackles her with
>”You were incredible out there, Roksa,” Sherry-K says proudly
>”Thanks, Sher,” Rox says, tail wagging. “And thanks for believing in me... for giving Anon and me this chance. We wouldn’t be here without you!”
>Knowing Rox, she’s talking more about the bigger picture than just Sherry-K vouching for her for the mascot initiative
>The bear and orangutan release you long enough for you to get closer to the hugging girls, and you can just barely hear Rox mutter in Sherry-K’s ear
>”I hope you never leave us, Sher,” Rox says. “This place just wouldn’t be the same without you.”
>A brief look of guilt washes over the tigress’ face, but with a defeated sigh she quickly breaks into a grin
>”I don’t plan on abandoning this place anytime soon, Roksa,” Sherry-K says. “You have my word.”
>Before you can get much closer to the two, a shrill squeal draws your attention
>It’s Chee, hopping madly toward you and looking as though she’s trying to take flight
>She actually gets a fair bit of altitude as the bird dives at you, taking you under her wing as you join Rox and Sherry-K in the group embrace
>”You guys were UNBELIEVABLE!” Chee trills. “Amazing! Best Whimsical Knights ever! I’m so proud of you!”
>”Hey, I thought you’re supposed to be running Little Happy Planet right now?” Rox laughs
>The bird ignores her joke and continues to sing praises
>”Best part of the show! Better than the fireworks! Oooh, I can’t wait until we start selling the new merchandise!”
>”You did pretty good yourself with the voice recording, Chee,” Sherry-K says. “It’s definitely a fresh, welcome change compared to the outdated narration Whimsical Knights has had in the past. You have the perfect voice for the job.”
>”You don’t live with her, Sher,” Rox says. “Let’s wait a few months and we’ll see if you feel the same way.”
>Chee sticks her tongue out and Rox pulls her in tighter
>”Sorry, Chee. Couldn’t help it!”
>”Always skating on thin ice, Roksa,” Sherry-K scoffs. “I hope you realize the kind of paperwork I’m going to have to do tonight to clear that little stunt you pulled with upper management.”
>”Sorry, Sher....”
> Rox isn’t dragging you into the flames for this one, but she’s still your partner in crime
>And your ride home as well, so you’ll be sticking with her for whatever punishment she’ll have to endure before the end of the night
>But it doesn’t look as though Sherry-K has reprimands on the mind this time
>”Given how quickly you’ve won over Mr. Whimsey, I’m sure he won’t mind a little...creative alteration to his show,” the tigress muses. “Don’t worry about it, Roksa. Go and enjoy the rest of your night. I think you’ve earned it.”
>Rox shakes her head
>”Thanks, but I’ll be sticking around for a little while longer anyway,” the wolfess says. “I’m sure the folks are going to want to say ‘hi’ once the show’s done.”
>Can’t say you’re exactly looking forward to seeing her mom again, but Rox doesn’t look too worried about it
>She just grabs you around the shoulder and gives a thumbs-up to Chee
>”If you beat us home, don’t wait up for us,” Rox says. “We’ll all go out and celebrate the right way tomorrow evening. I think Anon and I are going to be turning in early tonight once we get back.”
>With how bad Rox is at lying, it’s a miracle none of the others pick up on the suspicious way she says “early”
>And not even her domino mask can hide the dreamy, lustful look she has in her golden eyes
>She has something in mind for the two of you tonight, and as the adrenaline from the show slowly drains from your body it’s replaced with new anticipation for what she has in store
>You might be celebrating “the right way” tomorrow, but it looks like you’re going to be celebrating with Rox HER way tonight
>Provided you don’t have to carry her unconscious body into the apartment again, that is



[[ CHAPTER 40: King of Rox ]]

>Whimsical Knights still has one final act to go, but for most of the anthros the show is already over for the night
>Only a couple of anthro employees have a part in the finale, and those are the ones still stuck in the traditional full-body mascot costumes
>The Whimsey Corporation doesn’t like to shake up its classic shows TOO much — as many hardcore guests absolutely hate drastic changes to their nostalgia — but after the excitement the second act generated tonight, management might want to spice up the third act a little bit as well to keep the audience invested
>Not even the fireworks can top “lifelike” anthropomorphic animal people
>Still, it’s the first time getting a chance to see Whimsical Knights in its entirety for many of the anthros sitting in attendance, so you and Rox have to wait until the very end before getting the chance to see her parents
>Several anthro journalists try to sneak in a few words with the performers, but the Whimsey coordinators are quick to block them off until friends and family of the cast have the first chance
>Your group is given privacy away from where the Whimsical Knights audience slowly spills out of, and friends of the performers are sent in your direction
>A pair of young bear cubs dash over to be scooped up in each of Blue’s massive arms, while an old gentleman orangutan hobbles over on a cane to have a sweet moment with his wife Lulu
>You can’t ask for bigger fans than family
>For better or worse, the first of the two wolves to approach you and Rox is the one you were much more inclined to see
>Rox’s father walks up in a rather dressy suit and with his arms stretched out wide
>You try to step out of the way to let the two wolves share their hug, but Kale pulls you in before you can get far
>You’re crushed between the two wolves, surrounded by fur on all sides
>”What a show!” the elder wolf hollers. “That was amazing, sweetheart! And Anon, my boy, you made that little human girl so happy! I was so proud of both of you I was clinging to the poor guy next to me with tears in my eyes!”
>”Thanks for coming all this way, dad,” Rox says. “Glad you could make it.”
>”Wouldn’t miss it for the world, kiddo,” Kale says. “That was quite the surprise you kept. What a promotion, indeed!”
>The elder wolf glances around the backstage area with a nostalgic look in his eyes
>”Ahh...I almost forgot how neat this place is. Someday, when your old man retires, I’ll have to move to this side of town. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get a part-time job working here in the park? That way I can embarrass my little girl and my son-in-law like this every day. Bwahahaha!”
>”Daaad...” Rox grumbles
>Knowing where Rox gets her sense of humor from, Kale could be a good fit over at Gallery Guffaw, telling corny dad jokes each show
>Or maybe even take up his daughter’s legacy and don the Whirly Barf costume
>The three of you hug it out for a few more moments before the elder wolf gives you and Rox a few last affectionate pats on the back
>”Keep me in the loop, alright?” Kale says. “I’d love to see whatever new things you two are up to.”
>Kale gives you a firm nod; you’re unmistakably one of the family
>”I’ll keep coming back whenever you ask...just as long as the ticket’s free. This place hasn’t gotten any cheaper over the years! Bwahahaha!”
>”I’m sure we can work something out, dad,” Rox chuckles
>Kale’s raucous laugh continues as he walks off to head home, drawing the surprised stares of more than a few anthros
>Once his voice trails off into silence, a feeling of dread is left behind
>Now comes the rougher part
>The spitting image of Rox as an older wolf slowly pads up next
>Much like Kale, the mother wolf is dressed elegantly for the occasion
>Quite the stark contrast to her daughter, who looks like she was just ripped out of a 90s comic book
>But unlike the previous family interaction from moments ago, nobody is smiling
>Lelea looks from her daughter to you, not exactly sure whose crazy outfit she should be focusing on, yet at least making more eye contact with you than she did on your first meeting
>”Roks...ah, Rox,” she says, catching herself quickly. “Anon....”
>”Mom...” Rox replies flatly. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
>”You did really well tonight, sweetheart,” Lelea says. “Erm, both of you. You did good as well, Anon.”
>The mother wolf tries her best to be cordial with you, looking like a timid dog that would run off if you try to pet it
>There’s an awkward, extended pause
>The silence is killing you, and you realize it’s Rox who’s waiting for her mother to make the next move
>Whether they’re communicating through subtle “wolf signs” or they already had a private conversation earlier, Rox knows Lelea has something she’s supposed to say now
>The mother wolf inhales deeply, then keeps her gaze fixed on yours
>You still hope Rox ages just as gracefully as her mother
>”Anon, I...would like to apologize to you,” Lelea says. “We didn’t exactly start off on the right foot, and...that was entirely my fault. I was ignorant and a poor host, and I understand why you and Rox would be upset with me.”
>She holds out her perfectly manicured paw
>”It’s clear you make my Rox happy, and that’s a side of her I haven’t gotten the chance to see in years. I want to be in her life again to share that happiness, but I only made things worse. If you’re the one who can bring that side of her out, then I want to support you. I don’t expect your forgiveness, but I hope you can accept my apology. I’m sorry for how I’ve treated you.”
>Her words are careful and deliberate — perhaps to avoid any speciesist missteps — but they’re still honest
>She’s not just reciting a practiced, insincere speech to save face, and you can see the genuine hurt in her eyes from the bitter memory of how she treated you
>It will no doubt take a while for her to truly see you the same way she would if you were a wolf, but as Rox has said before, that’s her problem
>You’ll continue to love Rox with or without her mother’s blessing, and even if it takes years to win the elder wolf over you’ll still love Rox the entire time anyway
>You take Lelea’s paw and give it a firm shake
>Her grip, while not as strong as Kale’s, is at least friendlier than the first handshake you had with her
>Little steps
>It’s enough to bring a grin to Rox’s muzzle
>”Thanks, mom,” she says. “Hope you had a good time tonight.”
>”I have to say, it was a very impressive performance,” Lelea says. “I only wish it were a little longer.”
>Rox snorts; something else is clearly on her mind
>Something she’s waiting for as soon as the night is over
>The two wolves make some small talk for a little while before Lelea parts ways as well
>She even gives you a polite goodbye, which is as much of a relief as it is a compliment
>With familial obligations finished, a few of the anthro journalists are allowed to approach the performers in controlled numbers
>Many of them predictably swarm Rox and the others, but you get a couple of eager interviewers looking to get “a human perspective” on the show
>Granted, they make it sound like you were in the audience watching instead of actually BEING on the stage yourself, but whatever
>A few questions, a few photos, and soon Rox has had all she can take for the night
>Whatever she has in store for you, it’s becoming rapidly more difficult for her to hold it off

>It’s an eerie shift to have the whirlwind of activity and attention so suddenly stop
>You weren’t necessarily expecting to become a big celebrity constantly bombarded with followers once the show ended, but the world seems to much quieter than usual after coming down from the highs of the performance
>You and Rox get back to the apartment later than usual, and it looks like Chee took the wolfess’ advice to heart
>The bird is already in her room for the night, making the silence of the apartment even more apparent
>”Bet all the excitement tired her out,” Rox whispers as the two of you sneak through the living room. “Can’t say I blame her. I’d be dead on the couch already if I hadn’t slammed a coffee a little while ago.”
>You balk at her confession
>Caffeine THIS late at night?
>But the wolfess doesn’t say anything more as she leads you to the bedroom for the night
>You crash on the bed as she slips into the bathroom, and it takes a great deal of energy just to keep your eyes open
>The bed feels like the embrace of a long-lost friend after everything you’ve gone through today
>It’s still just barely big enough to contain both you AND Rox, and it’ll probably be a while before your promotions bring in enough money to pay for some nicer furniture
>Rox will probably want a more private place for the two of you as well, but not before she makes sure Chee has someone to keep her company, too
>Little steps
>The tug of fatigue almost makes you shut your eyes, when you’re suddenly jolted awake by a sharp clearing of the throat
>Rox is standing in the doorway of the bedroom, wearing the domino mask from her Rokk-Woof outfit
>And nothing else
>The gloriousness of her nude body is almost overshadowed by your surprise that she managed to sneak a piece of her costume off of Whimsey grounds
>Rox brings a finger to her lips
>”I won’t tell if you don’t. ”
>The wolfess tiptoes over to the bed, creeping closer like a predator on the prowl
>You suddenly realize just how spent your body feels, making you even more vulnerable to her advances
>”Just take it easy, champ,” Rox purrs. “Let me do the work tonight.”
>You laugh and ask if she intends on keeping the mask on, and Rox just cocks an eyebrow innocently
>”Rox? Doesn’t sound familiar. It’s just Rokk-Woof tonight, here to make her number-one fan’s dream come true.”
>Memories of your clumsy “first time” with Rox come racing back, including her admission that wearing a costume would probably have helped her overcome her anxiety about having sex with you
>You can only laugh again
>Guess she wasn’t kidding after all
>At least she isn’t wearing the Whirly Barf mask like she joked about
>Rox’s claws dig into your clothes, and she disrobes you with impressive quickness and gentleness
>Someone’s been practicing, for sure
>”Truth be told, I got it all backwards,” she says, keeping her voice low to a seductive rumble. “I’m here because I want you to make MY dreams come true. Rokk-Woof might get top billing in the duo, but she couldn’t do it without her Fan-On.”
>Now you’re completely in the buff as well, but the heat coming off of Rox’s body protects you from the chill of nudity
>The wolfess dips her head down and nibbles on your neck and shoulders, giving little love bites as her body presses down on your own
>”You don’t get nearly enough credit for what you do around here,” Rox says between nips on your skin. “They might treat you like an extra in the show, but you’re the most important thing in MY life. I wouldn’t be where I am without you, Anon.”
>She moves her hips up closer, and your growing arousal brushes against her toned belly
>The sudden stimulation makes you gasp, and Rox takes the opportunity to lock her lips with yours
>Her tongue darts around inside your mouth, while her paws rub and knead your skin to massage your muscles
>Your length is teased by the fur of Rox’s stomach, while she shifts her hips and grinds her heated folds against your legs one at a time
>The wolfess continues massaging your body after she disconnects the kiss, nibbling at your lower lip a few more times
>Taking control of the situation is out of the question with her weight keeping you pinned down and your muscles turning to putty in her leathery paw pads
>”Just relax for a bit,” Rox whispers when you try to shift around. “I know I have a habit of, well, getting the better deal when we mess around. Tonight’s just for you, Anon. Like I said, you don’t get rewarded nearly as well as you should. I want to make that up to you, starting...right...now....”
>She lifts her hips up and your tip slides down her belly, flicking against her own arousal as she hovers over you
>”Just gotta keep the wild noises down, alright?” the wolfess breathes, running a digit of her paw over your lips
>You nod slowly, and each bob of your head brings the lupine down bit by bit like a jack
>The scandalousness of trying to keep your actions quiet from your roommate pumps more adrenaline through you, and by the time Rox’s hips settle against yours you’re already feeling the countdown commence
>Rox’s tongue flops out of her mouth in pleasure as she wiggles down, followed by some heavy gyrating
>Combined with her costume mask, the whole image of her goofy look makes you let out a chuckle
>”Hey!” she growls quietly. “Knock it off. I’m doing this for YOU!”
>It’s playful banter, though even Rox seems to realize how ridiculous she must look right now
>But if this is how she shows her love for you, then you’ll take whatever she wants to give
>She plugs your mouth with her muzzle again, and the intimacy resumes
>The wolfess drains you dry late into the night, taking only brief pauses to listen for the stirring of your avian roommate



>[[ Some time later... ]]

>When was the last time Rox got frustrated at work?
>There was a time you’d be sharing your daily grievances with each other at the end of a long shift dealing with annoying park guests
>It doesn’t sound like the worst types of guests have gone away or gotten any more tolerable — if your coworkers’ rants are any indication — but you and Rox almost never have to interact with them
>It almost makes you feel guilty
>Almost
>As a matter of fact, these days the two of you get to hang out with the most adoring fans possible
>Tonight is one such example: Cast Night with the anthro kids
>After some careful planning by Whimsey management, a decision was made to extend the timeframe of Cast Nights and allow a larger crowd of (anthro) guests into the park once all the humans have gone home for the day
>Darwin Whimsey Senior dreamt of a world where humans and anthros could share the same space and live in harmony, and while such a day is still far off in the future it seems like a logical step to allow the Children of Aesop to enjoy the park they’ve helped him build
>Cast Nights used to be times when a scattered attendance of Whimsey-employed anthros would prowl the park grounds to enjoy a few short hours of entertainment, but now the streets are filled with crowds that almost rival the lowest, out-of-season numbers of human guests
>Humans in the day, and anthros at night
>The change is sudden and kind of magical, and you’ve grown to prefer the later hours of the day so you can see all the excited faces of the anthros who have never gotten the opportunity to see the fabled Whimsey World in their whole lives
>But on these kinds of nights, you’re often still on the clock
>You and Rox are dressed up as Fan-On and Rokk-Woof, following one of your Whimsical Knights performances
>And you’re not alone either; it’s your joint duty to remain in character as you accompany a small group of anthro children around the park and go on whatever rides they want with them
>A handful of pups, kits, and chicks buzz around you, thrilled to get the chance to meet their heroes (and stay up past their usual bedtime, of course)
>One poor otter girl only had so much energy for the day and is currently being carried in Rox’s arms as your group strolls through the park
>The wolfess doesn’t look the least bit bothered, however
>She actually has a warm, rather motherly sort of grin as the otter girl naps over her shoulder
>Meanwhile, your hands are nearly as full
>You’ve been holding the paw of a young lion cub for the last hour, making sure he doesn’t trip over his own furry feet since his gaze has been locked on you the entire time
>Cradled under his other arm is a Fan-On action figure, the same green-faced one modeled after the very character designed in your likeness
>The lion cub is positively awestruck at getting the chance to be so close to you
>Rokk-Woof and the other anthro Whimsical Knights still have the biggest following, but more than a couple fans seem to find you the coolest one of the bunch
>They’re probably too young to really understand the significance of who you really are and what role you’ve played in the human-anthro relations of Whimsey World and beyond, but that’s not what’s important right now
>You’re a superhero to them, and the thought that some of them want to come to Whimsey World just to see you is an incredible feeling
>As the night goes by, eventually you have to turn the anthro kids over to their parents
>The otter girl is sound asleep as her mother takes her off of Rox’s shoulder
>For one brief moment, you can sense some reluctance in Rox’s face to hand over the child as the little otter is transferred out of her arms
>With nothing left to hold, Rox’s arms hang limply at her sides
>There’s one last thing the wolfess could possibly want in her life to make all her dreams complete, and it’s arguably the most difficult one to fulfill
>Maybe impossible, even
>Rarely do people get EVERYTHING they want in life, even in a place like Whimsey World
>But Rox has gotten pretty close already, and you know she’s fine having something left to work toward
>The anthro kids say their sleepy goodbyes as their parents lead them to the park gates, and you and Rox are left on your own
>The masked wolfess stands in contemplation for a minute, but then turns to you with a spark of life you’ve been waiting to see all night
>”So, how about we check in on our dear friend?” she says, rubbing her paws together. “We gotta kill some time before my ‘surprise’ is ready.”
>Again with the surprises
>Rox has been looking forward to this night for the last week, but she hasn’t told you why
>She grabs your hand and the two of you dash off toward Little Happy Planet
>It’s still not one of the more popular rides, even for the anthros, but you know you’ll always find a welcoming smile running the attraction behind the scenes
>You slip into the backstage of the ride and make your way up to the control station, where a chipper oriole is organizing her collection of Whimsical Knights
>”Oh! Hello there, Rokk-Woof! Fan-On!” Chee says with a giggle. “Are you finished with the little ones for the night?”
>”Just dropped them off,” Rox says. “How have things been for you tonight, Chee?”
>”Quiet, as usual,” Chee says, shrugging her shoulders. “But at least I have some friends to keep me company!”
>The bird motions to her little Whimsical Knights figures
>She’s got a whole set for home, work, and even her car
>Everything Rox gets for free goes directly to Chee, but evidentially that wasn’t enough to satisfy the bird’s ever-growing collection
>Rox opens her mouth to chastise the bird, but she freezes when something on one of the attraction monitors catches her eye
>”Heh, speaking of friends....”
>Floating along the ride on one of the boats are Sherry-K and Mionra
>Wearing matching Whimsey shirts and leaning against each other intimately, paws interlocked
>The tigress and vixen are completely ignoring the attraction; instead they’re nuzzling each other and whispering inaudible things that you can only assume are heartfelt confessions
>The shorter vixen’s head is nestled in the neck of the larger tigress, though Mionra’s tail is bushy enough to fit on both of their laps
>It’s wondrous to see Sherry-K in one of her rare “out of work uniform” moments, but the blissful expression on her face is even more priceless
>She’s earned it
>Chee coos sweetly, then reaches ominously toward a button on the control counter
>Her wing is intercepted by Rox’s swift paw
>”Chee...” Rox scolds. “I don’t think so. Remember what happened the LAST time you took someone’s picture without their consent?”
>”Ooohhh, but they look so cute together!” Chee pouts. “Besides, everything worked out in the end anyway for you and Anon, didn’t it?”
>Rox turns to you, beaming proudly
>”Yeah...I guess you’re right. But still, you’re on your own if you try to pull something like that again. We’re not bailing you out of that one.”
>”Fine...” Chee sighs as the boat with the two lovers drifts out of the camera frame
>The three of you watch the tigress and vixen for a while as they float from one monitor to the next, until you’re joined by another familiar face
>The door to the control station opens up, and a sharp beak is the first thing to enter the room
>”A-ah, found you guys!”
>”Yo, Ace!” Rox says
>”Hello, Amadeus!” Chee sings
>The pheasant boy drops a wrapped muffin off on one of the tables, then rubs his neck with his free wing
>”You, uh, didn’t show up for your break again,” Ace says to Chee. “Figured you were busy, s-so I thought I’d bring you a snack.”
>”Oh!” Chee says. “You’re right! Guess I got preoccupied with the ride again. Oh well. Thanks for coming all this way up here, Amadeus!”
>”S-sure thing, no problem,” the male bird chuckles
>He turns to Rox, and you’re hit with a feeling of déjà vu
>”That, uh, ‘thing’ is all ready, whenever you guys want to stop over.”
>”Cool,” Rox says. “Thanks, bud. We’ll head that way in a little bit.”
>The pheasant disappears, giving a quick, nervous wave to Chee first
>The oriole waves him off in return, then leans in to you and Rox
>”Hey, Roxie...” Chee says in a hushed voice
>”Yeah, Chee?”
>”Do you think...do you think Amadeus LIKES me?”
>Oh, Chee...
>That poor, poor, naïve girl...
>Rox’s paw winds up for the mother of all facepalms
>But the wolfess stops herself and instead places her paw on her avian friend’s shoulder sympathetically
>”You know what, Chee? I think you might be right. I think Ace might have a bit of a crush on you....”
>Chee’s eyes go wide and she covers her beak bashfully
>”O-o-oh, I see.... I, uh, actually think he’s...k-kind of cute myself....”
>The bird glances to the monitors, catching a glimpse of Ace at the attraction’s entrance
>”Why don’t you take that break now, Chee?” Rox says. “Anon and I can show ourselves out.”
>”O-ok, thanks. I’ll see you guys later!”
>And off she goes, chasing down the pheasant through the streets of Whimsey World with her arms flapping
>Now that it’s just the two of you, Rox finally unleashes that forehead smack
>”That girl is something else....”

>Rox still doesn’t tell you what the ‘surprise’ is, but you start to get a few ideas as she leads you toward the center of the park
>Toward Whimsey Castle
>The crowds of anthros are starting to thin out as it gets later into the night, but the groups you pass still want to get one more picture with Rokk-Woof and her Fan-On
>You know Rox loves each interaction she has with her fans, but she pulls you down one of the less-populated streets so you can get to your destination faster
>It’s a good thing she did, because now you get to see something you’re glad you walked in on
>In a quiet part of the park is a cluster of anthro coordinators, with one unmistakably large tiger standing at the front of the pack
>Shearod-K looks like he was poured into his pinstripe uniform, and that any sudden move might rip the straining shirt clean off
>But the tiger’s comical appearance doesn’t detract from the ferocity of his size and authority, and the audience he’s speaking to clearly understands what he can be capable of
>His audience consisting of four human Whimsey employees and their anthro partners
>The humans stare unblinking at the tiger, just as afraid to make any sudden movement as the tiger is
>You can vaguely recognize them as some of your fellow seasonal workers who eventually were hired on full time, but it’s been ages since you’ve had any lasting interaction with the other human employees
>They recognize YOU pretty quickly, though, despite your masked appearance
>”Ah, it appears we have some celebrities in our midst,” Shearod-K chuckles humorously. “Come to inspect the new recruits, have you?”
>”Hey, Mr. K!” Rox says. “You’re looking pretty sharp tonight.”
>”Many thanks,” Shearod-K responds, spreading his arms out as comfortably as he can without tearing anything. “It felt appropriate to wear the traditional Whimsey garb for such an occasion, though it does not breathe as well as I would have thought....”
>”Try wearing one of the costumes sometime,” Rox snorts. “So, who do we have here?”
>Shearod-K wiggles a pen toward the quartet of humans, none of whom can seem to speak at the moment
>You don’t blame them for being in shock
>”These are the most qualified candidates we have scouted out for the next phase of Mr. Whimsey’s plan,” the tiger explains. “We are confident that these upstanding members of the Whimsey family will be able to work alongside a designated ‘sponsor’ in order to foster a bond not unlike the one demonstrated by you and Anon.”
>Shearod-K gives you a knowing smirk
>Each one of the other humans is accompanied by one of your anthro coworkers
>Chee’s seagull friend Petch is among the four anthros, as well as a somewhat nervous looking black panther: your short-term mascot partner, Baggy
>If you had to take a guess, Baggy’s role in getting assigned a human partner may have been more “accidental” than voluntary, similar to how a certain wolfess got paired up with her own human...
>”Glad I could be the start of something!” Rox says, puffing out her chest. “Just as long as they, you know...keep their noses clean. Don’t want them ending up like the ones that came before Anon....”
>Rox bears her fangs in a wicked smile, and the four humans swallow in unison
>Well, fear DID work on you too in the beginning, after all
>The humans are keen on giving Shearod-K their unbroken attention as he resumes explaining the procedures of Cast Night to them, while you and Rox continue toward the castle
>”Seem like nice people,” Rox says. “Can’t wait to mess with them.”
>Good grief, Rox...
>”Hey, you made it through the hazing just fine, right? Plus, they’ll be running to you for advice in no time. I’m sure it’ll be nice to have some other humans to talk to again, won’t it?”
>Now that you think about it, does it matter?
>The anthros have become your new friends now, and even though it’s relieving to have the freedom of leaving the park grounds without constant supervision you’re never in any rush to leave
>You get enough human interaction with the guests of Whimsey World, but you’ll never get bored with the animal-folk you rub shoulders with
>Still, if you absolutely HAVE to work alongside the humans once again, so be it
>It’s for a good cause, and there are those out there depending on you to keep the human-anthro partnership strong
>You and Rox approach the looming castle in the center of Whimsey World, passing by the newest addition to the park waiting just before the drawbridge
>A bronze statue of Darwin Whimsey Senior in his prime, with a young Chobbo standing next to him, hand-in-paw
>They both have those iconic goofy smiles sculpted into their faces, immortalized from the legendary picture they both shared
>Father and son, together for all time
>”The show’s going great,” Rox says quietly to the statue as you walk by. “All thanks to you, buddy.”
>She immediately turns and plants a wet kiss on your cheek
>You enter through one of the hidden employee backdoors to the castle and ascend up the stairs
>Higher and higher you go
>When you get to the top level, you notice how much more thematically decorated this area looks since the last time you’ve been here
>What used to feel like the storage space of an attic now truly feels like the upper floor to a royal castle
>You and Rox walk down a hallway, lined with gorgeous wooden doors that each have a name of one of the Whimsey princesses on them
>”They’re bringing back the ‘royalty rooms,” Rox says when you get to the right one
>What else? The Glacika Suite
>The wolfess opens the door and ushers you inside with a flourish
>”Letting guests use these rooms once again on special nights. Contest rewards mostly, I think. Can’t imagine how much it would actually cost to RENT one of these things for the night. Woof! But they need to do a bit of a test run first; make sure the beds are comfortable enough, you know?”
>Rox runs a claw along the billowy covering of the king sized bed
>She isn’t kidding about the rent
>The total cost of a whole family’s entire Whimsey vacation probably doesn’t stack up to a single night in a room like this
>Everything in this room is exquisitely designed with white gold and little snowflake embellishments
>It makes you think of winter, and even with how hot it is outside you find yourself wanting to enjoy the warmth of Rox’s fur and get out of “the cold”
>Near the stunning stained glass window is a chilled bottle of wine, patiently waiting for you and your wolfess
>Rox snatches it up and pops the cork, and at the same time you begin to hear the booming of distant fireworks outside of the castle
>They always begin at the edges of Whimsey World and work their way up to the middle, ending with the finale right over the castle itself
>Even for being so far away, every flash of light illuminates the stained glass and shoots rays of colorful light into the suite
>”Ever since that time we snuck up here, I wanted to make up for what a bummer that night turned out to be,” Rox says, pouring your glass
>Guess she never quite forgave herself for that night, but now it’s all going to change
>The wolfess hooks her drink arm with yours and peels her mask off with her other paw
>You get an unobstructed look at those sultry, breathtaking golden eyes
>”They say only princesses are supposed to be allowed up here,” Rox says. “I guess that’s why they bent the rules just for us. After all, you make me feel like a queen, Anon.”
>She sticks her tongue out at the cheesiness of her line, then plunges it into your mouth to give you a passionate kiss
>You haven’t even gotten to taste the wine yet, and it’ll probably be a while before you do
>When Rox finally breaks the kiss, she runs her muzzle all around your face
>”You make me so, so damn happy,” she whispers. “Even the worst days we’ve been through together have been better than the best days I’ve had to live through alone. Heh, I still don’t think I deserve someone as great as you. I don’t think I’ve been able to really show you just how much I appreciate having you around, either.”
>Rox sets her glass down, and you follow suit
>She steps forward, forcing you to step back as your legs are tangled with hers and your body moves along her curves
>”But I’m ready to do all I can to keep you in my life forever. Even if we get sick of this place somehow...I need to have you next to me wherever we decide to go.”
>Rox moves you backward until you trip onto the bed, then hops up herself and straddles you on all fours
>The wolfess hangs over you, nose to nose as she stares into your eyes with unmistakable, unparalleled infatuation
>”Hope you weren’t planning on going anywhere anytime soon though, champ” she says coyly. “We’re staying in here until they come to kick us out. Who knows when the next time we’ll ever get to try out a place like this?”
>Rox slowly lowers herself, aiming her muzzle for another deep kiss
>Right before you touch lips, the thunderous bang of the fireworks right outside the castle catches you both by surprise
>Rox flops down on top of you, grabbing hold tightly before she realizes what happened
>”Alright, screw this!” she growls. “This place never works. Next time, we’re going someplace quieter and as far from the park as we can!”
>Her frustration soon turns into laughter, keeping you in her powerful embrace as she rubs and nuzzles you
>The laughing continues for a long while, to the point where Rox is almost in tears
>Her furry body even shudders for a brief moment as she’s gripped by joyous emotion
>It’s bliss like she’s never felt before
>You stroke her fur and let her know just how deserving of happiness she really is, and how you’ll go on any — and every — adventure with her
>Rox sniffs and burrows her head into you even stronger
>”I love you, Anon...love you....”
>Her nightly routine already?
>Is it time for bed?
>”Give me a break, I’m just resting my eyes a bit,” Rox murmurs. “We had...a long day...you know?”
>Her voice gets slower and her words are punctuated with a yawn
>The only part of her left moving is the content wag of her tail
>You get the feeling she isn’t going to last much longer tonight after all, but that’s fine with you
>There’s no rush; you have your whole lives ahead of you, just as she’s said
>You’ll be there for the wolfess no matter where she does
>Whether that’s outside of the Whimsey grounds...
>Or right here in the happiest place on the planet



>The end